Chapter Three: The Battle

Himeko steeled herself to enter the chamber. Walking inside, she saw that Suzaku had already begun to play the Makai flute, and was watching the mirror closely.

"Keiko!" Himeko turned at Yusuke's strangled cry. Hm, she thought. So he cares for this human girl? Suzaku, you have outdone yourself this time.

"Ah, Yusuke, Himeko. Care to watch the show with me? As you can see, I've sent the infected humans after your little girlfriend, Yusuke. It should prove to be quite entertaining." Suzaku turned, a sadistic grin on his face.

"You monster!"

Yusuke charged at Suzaku, who knocked him aside with the Flute. "Not now, boy. I have to deal with my traitor here." He turned and began advancing on Himeko, who shifted into a fighting stance. "Although…" Suzaku paused in his stride. "You may be more fun to toy with. Stay put, kitty." He gestured, and Himeko was locked in place.

Kitty! I'll show him kitty! Himeko thought, enraged. Struggling, she found she couldn't move. She looked closer at her bonds, and discovered that Suzaku had chained her with miniature lightings. Helpless, she was forced to watch the battle. The two exchanged blows, until…

"Spirit Gun!"

Suzaku easily deflected the attack, opening a hole in the ceiling. He raised his arm, gathering lightning energy to him, while that stupid bird flew around and cackled. (A/N: I'm sorry; I just couldn't stand that bird. Does anyone know her name?) Well, you're not the only one here who can bend lightning to your will, Himeko thought. She fought against the power that made her unable to help.

"Storm of Torment!" Suzaku unleashed the energy he'd gathered, as Yusuke fell to the ground. The Saint Beast turned back to the mirror.

After a moment's watching, he circled around and began walking purposefully towards Himeko. She stood there, awaiting his next move, when a noise made her look past her former master.

"…...I'm not done with you yet," said Yusuke as he struggled to his feet. "It'll take more than that to kill me."

"I'm impressed," said Suzaku, twisting his head to glare at the human. "Not many could survive that attack. In fact, you're the first."

"Well, goody for me. Do I get a prize?" Yusuke asked sarcastically.

"Nevertheless, you will not survive again. I have two favorite techniques, you see. I've already demonstrated my Storm of Torment. Now allow me to show you the other." Suzaku began chanting. When he had finished, there were seven of him. "I call it…The Prism of Seven!"

Himeko blinked. Had fury driven her insane? No, she saw Yusuke looking startled as well. So, he pulled it off. The Prism of Seven. I didn't think he could do it, she thought.

"Now…The Prism Storm of Torment!" As the seven Suzakus leapt into the air to perform the attack, Himeko noticed the power of her lightning chains was lessened. He was concentrating on them that whole time? She asked herself in surprise. He's more disciplined than I thought…well, best take advantage of it!

She broke free of her bonds and ran to Yusuke, throwing up a protective shield in the process. The Saint Beast's face twisted into an ugly sneer as she blocked the attacks.

1…2...3…4…She turned to see how Yusuke had fared. While her attention was diverted, a fifth attack smashed through her defenses, striking her on the shoulder and spinning her around. She gritted her teeth against the pain as a sixth hit her in the back. This time she screamed and collapsed on the ground, barely conscious as the seventh—and final—attack hit Yusuke. Weak from the previous bout, he cried out and collapsed as well.

"Impressive. Once again you surprise me, Himeko." She opened her eyes to see Suzaku slowly walking towards her. "When the Storm of Torment is used in conjunction with the Prism of Seven, the power is…..intensified. As you can see, I only needed one to finish off your new friend. That you were able to block so many, let alone survive two, is a miracle unto itself. However, you've run out of miracles." He reached down and gripped her by the neck as he lifted her off the floor. He struck her on the face, ripping off the veil she had worn. Hitting her again, her threw her across the room. She slid on the floor to ram up against the wall.

"Hey you! D'you really think you should be treating a girl that way?" Himeko weakly lifted her head, and felt a jolt run through her. Yusuke was alive!

"Foolish boy. You should have stayed down. You would be dead now if the Tigress hadn't stopped my attacks. You must know that ever since you entered my domain, you've been living on borrowed time."

"Well, that shows you don't know me very well. My whole life has been borrowed time!"

Himeko felt herself losing consciousness. As everything went black, she thought ruefully, That kid better not get himself killed. He's my only way out.


A/N: Well? Should I bother continuing? I have another fanfic idea in the making, so let me know if I should concentrate on that and give up on this one. Come on, click the little button in the corner that says "Submit Review". You know you want to! Thanks for reading!