Athena Zandrite
Actually every other person had been knocked down or severly wounded. So the only
ones still standing are Yukina, Botan and Lilliht (unless you count Yuusuke and Omi
chained in the background) Hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. It's short again,
but you know, it's not too bad. I hope. :D
The grass on the ground around Botan and Yukina freezes as the ice demon goes into defensive mode. There is an audible crunching sound as Lillith steps forward, crushing the frozen turf beneath her feet. All three of those who remain standing, have visible breath, coming out in soft puffs, before freezing in midair. :You'll have to do better than that to stop me, little one." Lillith's blue eyes are now tinted red, amused by the small show of frost, a last defense by two weak opponents. Victory is in her sight and her form draws up seeming to grow taller with confidence.
Yukina steps around Botan, defiantly refusing to give up. She spreads her arms, burgundy eyes alight with challenge. "Stop where you are." Her normally soft voice has found an ageless timber, taking on an air of command. With her shoulders thrown back and chin raised she looks more confident and her presence demands the opponent's attention.
Lillith's moment of hesitation is her fatal flaw. In the moment she stops, breath freezing before her, Yukina has summoned the power to attack from a distance. Icicles appear around her, quivering in the air, the soft hum of their hovering causing Lillith's eyes to widen in surprise. Then, without a moment's hesitation, Yukina lets loose the attack. Sharpened ice slices through the air, small frozen arrows that pierce Lillith's skin, freezing parts of her as she lets out an anguished scream. She surrounds herself with Hiei's fire, the flames engulf her body, melting the oncoming attack.
As the fire rages, the silhouette inside changes, growing, the height extends, then the hair visibly grows longer, flying above the new form's head. It is wild with the force of the flame, the body becomes more slender. As the flames die down, Botan and Yukina are both struck dumb by the new form in front of the, not at all recognizeable, golden hair flutters to rest on Lillith's shoulders, cascading down her back in lush waves, the eyes that watch them are a bright, angry green, and the woman standing before them has dusky skin, the color of tea and milk richly mixed together. She is devastatingly beautiful, but her eyes are cruel. For the first time, when Botan again has control of her thoughts, she wonders if this could be Lillith's true form. But now is not the time for such musings as Lillith's voice makes itself heard again, the blood still dripping from wounds. "The weakest of you, has injured me. But that is all. You can not win. Accept your defeat." She strides forward and slaps Yukina with such force, the small girl is thrown to the side, leaving four deep gashes from where Lillith's nails cut into the tender flesh of her cheek.
Botan reaches out to help but Lillith catches her wrist and twists it painfully. "I think I've earned your attention, don't be rude, Servant of Enma." Lillith spits her words out with rage in her voice. Botan looks at her, eyes wide but for reasons she cannot comprehend, she is no longer afraid.
Lillith glares, obviously unhappy with the curiosity she sees in Botan's eyes. Botan opens her mouth. "Your intense rage enters my heart." Her expression softens and she puts her free hand, gently, on Lillith's cheek.
Lillith's eyes widen and she releases her hold on Botan, jumping back and glaring at the blue-haired girl. "Don't presume to know me, Servant of Enma." She says with a shaking voice.
Botan simply watches her quietly, then steps forward. Her actions are obviously not hostile and Lillith is confused, fingers twitching with alertness. "Don't come near me!" she shrieks, and Botan pauses for a moment.
They watch each other, quietly. Violet eyes meeting electric green in a look that resembles pity. Lillith can take no more. This time she gathers her own energy into a ball in front of her. The golden glow shimmers in the dusky air and Botan's eyes shut in dismay. But inside her body warms in direct relation to the size of the growing energy ball that Lillith is forming.
Suddenly, Botan is glowing with the same golden light. Her clothes whip around her form and the amulet shoots out of her chest. Lillith screams in rage as suddenly the golden light begins to turn in on itself, then shoot forward toward the hovering amulet. "No! It can't be!" Lillith's cry becomes anguished as the energy is sucked out of her body. She falls to her knees, hair pooled around her. "Damn you to Jigoku Enma, you egotist bastard! You have made my eternal life hell and taken everything from me!" Her shout is strong at first but breaks at the end as her body becomes transparent, and tears flow down her cheeks. Botan watches, helplessly as the last ghosted figure of the demon who tormented her, looks beseechingly back, heart breakingly sad. Then Lillith is gone, the amulet hovers for a moment longer before turning from the white gold to a bronzed color, then it falls to the ground.
Botan kneels down, touching the amulet gently, before lifting the heavy metal and slipping it into her pocket. She lifts a hand to her cheek and frowns, realizing that she too has been crying. She shakes her head and runs over to Yukina who is shakily standing up.
"Yukina-chan! Are you ok?" she asks worriedly before getting a shaky nod. She turns to run to Kurama's fallen form as Yukina moves toward Hiei.
By this time, Yuusuke has managed to break free of the chain as whatever charm had been on it, liftend with Lillith's defeat. He runs forward, looking down at Kuwabara's bloodied torso and making a face.
Yukina makes a noise as Hiei stirs, Genkai comes back, carrying Ken and wincing in pain, Aya hauls himself upright, glancing at Youji who has a trail of blood coming down the side of his head. He stands and begins heaving his teammate up and dragging him over to the rest. Botan, Genkai and Yukina begin healing the most wounded members of the group, the rest are roused and they all begin the trek back to Genkai's temple, carrying those who can't walk.
Epilogue
Kurama's eyes feel heavy as he wakes, everything about his body hurts. The feeling of being more exhausted after sleeping for too long, compounds his sluggish thoughts. There is a gentle touch at his hand and his eyes flutter open.
"Oh, Kurama, you're finally awake!" Botan's voice is hushed but she looks happy if not a little tired. "No no, stay down." She holds his shoulder to stop his movement. "You were one of the worst hurt, we weren't even sure we could heal you." She is crying again.
Kurama's hoarse voice sounds foreign to his ears and causes her to open her eyes. "Botan." She sniffles then leans down and hugs him, gently enough not to hurt him.
Kurama blushes but then simply closes his eyes and smiles. "Thank you." He says as she pulls away.
Botan's eyes show she is confused, but he just smiles, placing his hand on hers. "How are the others?"
Botan bites her lower lip thoughtfully. "Well, Hiei slept for a while and recovered OK but a little bruised. Yukina has been keeping watch over him and Kuwabara. Kuwa-chan was in worse shape, we stopped the bleeding and bandaged him, he's still recovering. Yuusuke's been eating since we got back. He seems to be no worse for the wear." Botan looks a little irritated but continues. "Genkai-shihan was beaten up but it wasn't any worse than her tournament fights at the Ankoku Bujutsukai. She's been up and about since that night."
She glances up as Genkai walks by, moving to Ken's bed. "Ken had quite a few broken bones and Genkai has been trying to ease the pain and mend them. Aya was severely bruised, but seems to have recovered well. Youji had a mild concussion Aya and Omi took him back to their place. Omi's been seeing to them both.
Kurama nods, tiredly. "And Lillith?"
Botan's eyes go distant for a moment. "Lillith is sealed away, but I feel badly for her." She shakes her head and sighs. "I wish I knew what happened to her, I doubt Enma will tell me. She was so sad." Her voice is quiet and Kurama squeezes her hand, reassuringly.
Botan looks down at Kurama, watching him silently. They sit that way for endless moments, just memorizing the details of each other's face. Finally Botan smiles. "But it's over." She breaths deeply and leans down to pull Kurama's sheet up over him. He stops her by holding her wrist. She sits back, looking curiously at him.
"Botan…" she tilts her head at her name, waiting. "I.." Kurama searches for what to say, finally giving up and pulling her forward, wrapping one arm around her neck and shoulders to direct her, the other settling on her waist when she is close enough. His lips brush against hers and she widens her eyes in surprise before he pulls her closer, and she forgets everything around her, allowing his warmth to fill her heart.
***Fine***
My endings are always quick like a hurricane. X_x But really that's how it seems it should be. Rushing by not giving the characters enough time to digest exactly what is going on. Not until later where they can piece together what is going on. Lillith and Enma have a history in my story but like much of Enma in the show, we don't really understand it all. I think Lillith loved him but he didn't feel the same. Probably even played with her feelings. He cursed her to live a sort of half-life where she had to survive off of other creatures. And this is why she curses him at the end. I have always felt that those with great power are naturally cruel sometimes blindly so. And Enma's looming form is no exception. Sometime I may write about their history to further explain why Lillith behaves the way she does, but that is for another story. I hope you all enjoyed this, I hope the ending wasn't too rushed. Blasted cheesy ending but I felt like that part needed closure. And it is also not really finished. Botan still has feelings for Yuusuke and hasn't even begun to think of Kurama in that way. So this is hardly a real ending, but again, a good story leaves you wanting more, right? So I suppose I did ok in that department. Don't kill me ^.~ Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, and encouraging comments. They prodded me to get off my lazy duff and get this story finished. It took me a year and a half to finish it. But it's nice to have it all out there for others to know about too. Look for more stuff written by me. They aren't all so bittersweet and bloody. Though I do love gore. :D