Darn! Where had they taken her? I stopped running. The four guys that I had caught a glimpse of before Botan had disappeared were gone, and there was no sign of Botan, either.
Guess I'll have to sense her chi, then…
"It's been a long time, ne, Kurama?"
Nani?!? I turned around. I recognized that voice…and the chi was especially familiar…
"Have you forgotten, Kurama?" he stepped out of the trees.
My eyes widened in alarm. "Tokiya…" I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Hn, thought you didn't remember all the pain that you've caused me when we were still little," he smirked. "You haven't changed, Kurama."
"I'll say; you're still as annoying as ever," I snapped.
"Oh?" he said sarcastically. "Probably the reason why you loved making me suffer?"
"Tokiya, I never made you suffer. You were the one who made me do that. You asked for all of it and---"
"Uso!!! You've made my life miserable ever since you came, Kurama! You did everything you could just to piss me off! And I couldn't make you pay…since oneesan liked you! She always told me not to do you any harm while you continuously did to me!!!" he stepped closer, drawing his Ensui. "Now, she's gone…and I've finally found you…it's time to pay, Kurama!!!"
I gave him an angry smile. "You're still as stubborn as ever, Tokiya. You don't want to listen to me. Fine then, we'll have it your way! Rose whip!!!"
He sneered. "Now you're talking!" He jumped up, lunging his sword towards me.
I smiled to myself. As you wish, Tokiya, I thought, charging for him, too. As you wish.
BotanHinageshi had come minutes ago, flying on her oar, carrying the Ruffian's Sphere. And now, Ken was holding it in his hand, turning it around, inspecting.
"Hey, Omi, are you sure this is the one we're supposed to be after?" he asked the younger man, cocking an eyebrow.
"I've told you before, haven't I? This is it," he assured him.
Ken looked back at him, still not convinced.
"Say, Botan-chan, are you free tonight or something?" Yoji asked.
"Uh…um…you see, I---"
"You've given us the orb; you're free to go," Aya said simply.
"Oh…h-hai…I should go now…" I said. Yoji gave Aya a disappointed glare.
"Hey…hey, guys, isn't that…Tokiya-kun over there?" Omi pointed outside the window.
"What?!?" Yoji turned his gaze away from me and walked towards the window, where Omi was standing.
Ken ran over there as well. "Who's that guy he's fighting with?"
Tokiya-kun? Fighting?
I got out of the bed, and peered over. I gasped at what I saw.
It was Tokiya, alright, and he was fighting with…with…Kurama!!! But… why?
I ran out of the room, and dashed to them both, ignoring Ken's warning not to do so.
I had to stop this. I had to.
TokiyaI groaned and landed back on the ground, panting. I clutched my left arm again, wincing in pain. I already had caused him a lot of injuries, but unfortunately, he had caused me a lot, too.
Kurama leaped away from me and leaned back against a tree, panting as well. He was smiling in content at me, and I didn't have a single clue why.
Ugh, another shock of pain ran up my left arm. Damn it, what's wrong with my arm?!? It had been aching since the very beginning of the battle.
I glanced back at Kurama. He was grinning now, narrowing his eyes at me in satisfaction.
Has he lost his mind? "There's nothing funny about this, Kurama," I said in between pants.
"Aaargh," I winced and glanced at my arm. There was not a single wound on it, but there was some sort of mark on it, like a small dot.
Why is the stupid thing hurting so much?!?
It was then that he began to laugh. He raised his hand, pointing at my arm.
"I've planted… a seed that's slowly taking… all your energy and blood, Tokiya. You were… such in a hurry to…to kill me that you didn't notice it… being put… on you…" he said.
Nani?!? Another wave of pain shot up my arm, this time, affecting my body, too. Damn!!! It did hurt a lot…
I fell on my knees, sensing all my energy slowly being taken away. My body began to shiver, and another wave of pain shot up my body.
"K-kuso…Kurama…what have you…done…"
He grinned again. "Give it up, Mikagami."
Give it up? Should I just… give it up? All the pain in my childhood…my miserable life with him as a cousin…and he expects me to just give it all up?
"You've used up all your energy, and my seed's taking its remnants away. It's useless, Tokiya. Give it up," he continued.
No…I won't give it up…
"Kurama!!! Tokiya!!! What are you both doing? Please stop this now!" Botan appeared to us, pleading.
"Botan?" Kurama staggered.
"Kurama!" she ran to him, inspecting his injuries.
Botan…and…Kurama? Wha…what…why…
The particular ache in my heart added to the pain my whole body was experiencing. I could feel my strength slowly slipping away.
No…no…not now…I have…a battle…to win…Kurama…damn you…
I groaned again in my attempt to stand up. But the pain's too strong…
Soon, some parts of my body began to feel numb. Ugh, iie…
A single tear escaped my eye, not quite sure whether it was because of the extreme pain or…because of Botan…
Iie… "I…I can't…lose…" I struggled to stand up, though excruciating it may be.
I lifted the Ensui. "Kurama…it's not over yet…"
Botan looked at me, begging me to stop. "Tokiya, what are you doing? Please stop this! Kudasai!"
Botan, you're just like my sister, never wanting me to fight…but I'm not going to listen…anymore…
"Gather from all the places of great icicle…" I kept the Ensui in place. This is it…all my remaining energy…Ensui…please don't fail me now… "Tsurara Hebi!!!" and with my last ounce of strength, I summoned the icicle snake, which came charging towards Kurama.
"What the---?" he failed to dodge it, and I watched in content as he fell down to the ground, his blood scattering over the place, and my own blood pouring out because of the forceful attempt to release my remaining energy.
Finally, my knees gave way, and I collapsed to the ground, to my satisfaction.
At last…after all these years…I finally…
Beat…
Him…
And with that, my eyes shut close, and everything went pitch black.