"Soliloquy of the Executioner"

A/N: This piece is extremely short . . . and it probably isn't too good either. I haven't had much time for writing since school started . . .

Disclaimer: Nothing from YYH belongs to me. It's all property of Togashi-sama and those other guys.

I step into the arena, and see you there, unruffled and arrogant. You have never acted otherwise during the short time I have known you. I brace myself and meet your eyes. They look at me with an expression of – intense longing? I flinch.

Almost at the same time, I realize I am behaving like a coward. I should not let you do this to me. You have no right to intimidate me!

I hide my feelings underneath a poker face – too late, you have noticed my fear. You laugh, evidently pleased by my reaction. Your eyes narrow as you smile.

And swiftly burning, hatred courses through my veins. Even I am surprised at the fury which rears its ugly head when I see your violet eyes, smirking broadly in place of your masked mouth, yet so ardent in your declarations of – what you call love. Is it possible to hate to deeply? It seems especially wrong when the one you hate professes their love to you so eloquently.

How can I feel this? It's true . . . I am pathetic and maudlin. All those years in Ningenkai – I had no one to hate. I grew so soft. Look at Youko Kurama now. He feels guilty about despising a demented youkai who stalks him and aims to kill him. Or is this only Shuiichi Minamino? I will find out soon enough.

Once again I feel your hands on my neck, and I shudder involuntarily. The youko in me is rising. No one should be able to unsettle me like you do!

***

Youko is gone now. Karasu still lives. This cannot be. And what exactly is wrong with me? What was I thinking? Could I have felt anything other than disgust for him? No . . . Shuiichi will kill Karasu. Even though I am so much weaker this way. I must kill him in this form.

We continue to fight. I'm severely wounded. Not surprising, given the difference in our levels. I notice you – you're deriving pleasure from my pain. Your eyes travel over my blood – spilled so many times now – and onto my face. I struggle to control the pained expression I know I'm wearing. I can see you smile ecstatically. You sadistic bastard.

You smirk, sure of your victory, and I remember your promise to me. Something I can do without.

You promised to kill me but preserve my "beautiful face."

I reach tiredly into my hair – the hair defiled by your touch – and find what I'm looking for. This seed is my last chance . . . I haven't strength for anything else if even this fails.

Summoning my energy, I force myself to look into those hateful amethyst eyes again. And I decide to make a promise to you as well. It's only fair, after all.

You're wrong, itooshi. I won't die. But you will. Too bad I don't care to reciprocate the second half of your promise. For the first time I notice how striking your pale face is, framed as it is by your shining raven hair. And those eyes – they're so pretty. How could I have thought otherwise?

Pity.

A/N: For some reason, I like "Prelude to Requiem" better. I had a little trouble getting into Kurama's head, but what I was aiming for was a very cold Kurama. *sigh*

Feedback appreciated.