Born of Blood: Chapter Eight
by: Kawaii Kitsune

Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho and all the characters in the wonderful show do not belong to me, blah, blah, blah. You get the point. No money, don't sue, blah, blah, blah. Moving on.

Note: italics indicate thoughts.


After Evangeline conversed with her master, she returned to Kurama's room, just in time to see him finish putting on the final touches on his wardrobe. The clothes looked absolutely stunning on him. His fiery red hair stood out from the starkly white cloth and it brought out the green in his eyes. The red embroideries and sash matched perfectly with Kurama's flowing hair. All in all, he was one hot fox. They left for dinner as soon as Evangeline finished preparing him to leave his confinements.

Normally, strips of wards would have been put on the kitsune, but this time the wards used were a bit different. Instead of strips of paper placed strategically over Kurama's body, Evangeline placed wards made entirely out of ki on Kurama. This method takes a large amount of youki and an equally large amount of skill and control. However, after Evangeline completed with the application of wards, she was neither tired nor weak. It seemed to have no visible affect on her, much to Kurama's surprise and dismay.

After several twists and turns, Kurama and Evangeline found themselves paused before a great set of door, waiting for a confirmation by the occupant. A low voice telling them to enter was heard soon after and Evangeline pushed open the doors. She indicated that Kurama was to enter first, and Kurama, being the prisoner, had no choice but to obey. The female youkai closed the door after them and locked it.

"Ah, my dear Kurama," said Hikoku. He was sitting at the dinning table that was newly added for the occasion. "I've been waiting for you. Please come and join me for dinner."

"And if I refuse?" asked Kurama.

"That's not an option," Hikoku answered with a smile.

"Thought so." Kurama walked to the only empty chair at the table and sat down directly opposite of Hikoku.

Hikoku smiled again as the fox sat down. He turned his glance towards Evangeline, who stayed at the locked doors. "My pet, you know what to do. Stand outside and make sure we're not disturbed."

"Yes, Master." She turned, opened the doors, and stepped outside. Soon after the doors were closed, the sound of the locks clicking could be heard.

"Now, where were we?" Hikoku stared at Kurama with a look that made the latter very uncomfortable. "Ah yes, dinner. I hope you don't mind some escargot for dinner, I simply love it."

"I'm sure a slimy creature like yourself wouldn't mind dining on one of your own kind," Kurama answered bitterly.

Instead of getting angry, Hikoku chuckled. "Well, as long as you don't object."

The meal was already prepared and served on the table. Kurama looked at the food with suspicion, scanning it for any hint of poison or drugs. Being a master in plants and all forms of poisonous flowers and herbs, he quickly deducted that the food was safe to eat. Kurama took a small bite, and surprisingly, the escargot was prepared expertly. It was quite delicious, in fact. He continued to eat the finely cooked meal, making the most of his "stay" at the fortress.

"I'm glad you like it," declared Hikoku, happily eating his own meal. "I knew a high-class youko like yourself would enjoy some fine cuisine." He smiled a devious smile, as if he knew something that the youko did not.

He's up to something, thought Kurama, I just know it.

The two ate in silence for minutes. Kurama was busy studying his enemy's every move while Hikoku continued with his meal, never losing that smile of his. Just when Kurama thought he was going to lose his patience with the demon in front of him, Hikoku put down his utensils and looked intently at the fox.

"You're probably going crazy right now, trying to figure out what I'm up to, aren't you?" asked the demon lord.

"Hn. You assume too much," lied Kurama.

"Perhaps," answered Hikoku. He got up from his seat and walked to the sofa in the room, and promptly sat down. "I called you here to tell you a secret, actually. I thought that you would be amused."

"A secret? What secret?"

"Something that concerns you, that fire demon of yours, and my precious pet Evangeline." That smile was still on Hikoku's face. Kurama remained silent. "You asked where I acquired such a beauty as Evangeline," he continued, "but I refused to answer you then. I'll answer you now: I created her, from your blood and Hiei's."

Kurama's eyes widened in shock. She's a creation of our blood? Impossible!

The dark demon laughed when he saw Kurama's surprised expression. "Impossible? No, I assure you, it's quite possible. Ningen science and Makai technology can do wonders if you set your mind to it. The result is the perfect weapon."

"Even if what you say is true, why are you telling me all this?" asked the fox.

"Because I wanted you to know before you died. Or should I say, before your daughter kills you and your little fire demon." The smile grew bigger and more cynical.

* * * * *

"Look! I think I see the temple."

Dr. Yamamoto and the rest of the scientists let out a big sigh of relief upon seeing the simple yet welcoming temple. They had traveled nonstop since parting from their rescuer and fellow scientist. The group was weary and tired, but they were too fearful to stop walking, for their captors could attack them at any moment. Their only refuge was the temple Hiei spoke of to them.

A figure ran out from inside the temple grounds. "Who are you people?" asked Yusuke. He seemed calm, but he was ready to go into battle mode in a moment's notice.

"Please don't hurt us," Sazuki answered quickly, "We're only scientists. I believe one of your friends said that we would be safe here."

Yusuke's eyes widened. "One of my friends? Was he a redhead?"

"No, I believe his name was Hiei."

"That bastard!" another voice entered the conversation, this one a bit more high-pitched. Soon, Kuwabara, the owner of the voice, walked up to the group. "Where is that shrimp?"

"Please," inquired Koga, "may we go inside and sit down? We are all very tired and Dr. Yamamoto here is very weak. We'll tell you whatever you want inside."

"Deal," said Yusuke. He walked over to the sickly scientist and supported him as they began to head inside. "Follow me."

* * * * *

Evangeline, being the ever-obedient servant, stood guard outside of Hikoku's chamber. It was a tedious task but whatever the master ordered must be obeyed. Such was her programming and purpose in this life. But not for long, thought the youkai, Soon, I'll be free from this bind.

A surveillance guard ran towards Evangeline, panting and sweating from the exertion. He seemed to be panicked and worried, fearing for his life. The guard skidded to a stop one foot away from the female youkai and the doors. A quick breather was taken and he composed himself, preparing to report his urgent news.

"What is it, Yoto?" demanded Evangeline, "The master specifically requested to be left alone tonight."

"Evangeline-sama," answered the guard with a salute, "I have been sent here to inform Hikoku-sama that the prisoners have escaped."

"So find them! They're ningens. How far could they have gotten?"

The youkai guard struggled with the answer. "It seems that we underestimated the ningens. There's no trace of them."

"Hn, baka. If they escaped, they didn't do it alone. They must've had outside help."

"I must inform Hikoku-sama of this. He ordered that if anything were to happen to the prisoners, he should be told immediately." The look of fear never left Yoto's face.

"Very well," sighed Evangeline. The girl turned and knocked on the great doors. There was silence, and then her master's voice was heard from behind the doors. "What is it?" demanded Hikoku. From the tone of his voice, Evangeline and Yoto could tell that he was trying not to get visibly angry. "I was not to be disturbed, if you remember correctly."

"Of course, Master," Evangeline answered, "but something urgent has come up."

There was another moment of silence. "Enter."

The two youkai entered the room, with Yoto cowering behind Evangeline. Kurama now stared at the girl in a new light, finally seeing all the similarities between her, himself and Hiei. Her tall, slender figure obviously came from Kurama's genes, along with the reddish hair. However, the hair was tinted with black, which could only be Hiei's blood at work. The color of her eyes was the exact shade of that of the fire demon. A perfect combination of Hiei and me. The fox looked at Evangeline's dress, which happened to be the same one she wore when she first attacked them. Heh, she even has my fashion sense.

"Well, what is so important that you had to interrupt me?"

The youkai guard came out from his hiding place and said in a quivering voice, "My lord, the prisoners have escaped." He quickly slid behind Evangeline again, before he could see the anger appear on Hikoku's face.

"What?!?" screamed Hikoku, no longer keeping his anger in check. Yoto winced behind the female youkai, now truly fearing for his life. "How could you let this happen? They only ningens!"

Evangeline stepped aside to reveal the horrified youkai. "I-I'm very sorry, Hikoku-sama. W-w-we underestimated them, my lord."

"Such incompetence." Hikoku took a moment to calm himself, and then looked over at Evangeline. "Angel dearest, dispose of this pathetic excuse of a youkai and then dispatch our fastest soldiers to find those escapees. And find Hiei; I'm sure he was the one to help them escape."

"Hai." The girl turned around to face the retreating Yoto and raised her palm. Sitting on her palm was a seed. Kurama gasped when he recognized what she was holding. With a slight raise of youki from its mistress, the seed began to sprout and grow, expanding away from Evangeline's hand to form a full-grown plant. The plant, commonly called the Vampire, had a large, rather beautiful flower with shimmering red petals. However, the innermost petals were lined with rows and rows of sharp, jagged teeth. Tendrils extended away from the plant and snatched the terrified youkai from his spot. Yoto struggled and thrashed but his attempts for escape were futile as the tendrils raised him to the waiting petals. As soon as he was dropped, the petals closed in around him, creating a bulb. Screams of pain and agony were heard as the teeth crushed Yoto's body into little bits of flesh and bone. The stem greedily sucked up all the blood, hence its name, while the remains of the body stayed inside the petals to be slowly digested. Just when Kurama thought the punishment was over, Hikoku's hands began to glow a bright yellow. The glow grew to form a ball, which Hikoku released towards the bulb of the plant. A noise echoed throughout the room: not quite a scream but still as chilling. The glowing sphere returned to its master and was absorbed into his body.

"Another soul added to the collection," Hikoku said with a smile. He turned to Kurama. "I'll have yours and your lover boy's by the end of all this." He then switched his attention to Evangeline, who was in the process of returning the Vampire back into a seed. "Precious, don't forget to dispatch those soldiers when you're done here. Oh, and make sure I'm not disturbed again; I need to punish our "guest" here for his lover's mistake."

"Hai." And she left.

Kurama watched her leave in amazement. The Vampire is among one of the rarest plants in the Makai, and one of the hardest to control. It's a ruthless bloodsucker, always hungering for more victims. Only a master controller could manipulate the plant like Evangeline just did. Kurama himself would have trouble with it if he were not at full power. However, the kitsune had little time to dwell on the fact as the weight of Hikoku's words finally sank in. He had just enough time to turn and see the whip slash across his chest.

* * * * *

Evangeline waited until the troop of soldiers left before returning to her post in front of her master's room. As she neared the doors, the faint sounds of a cracking whip followed by agonizing screams caught her ears. The closer she got the louder and more intense the sounds became. The girl silently stood outside with no choice but to listen to all the pain and suffering that was happening inside the room. Even Evangeline, who reveled at the sight of blood and death, had a hard time enjoying the sound of her father in pain. She found herself wincing at every scream and cry. Why am I feeling this? I'm not supposed to feel! The cracks of the whip abruptly stopped and for a while the screaming did, too. However, just when Evangeline thought that the torture was over, the cries began again, this time even more agonizing than before. The female youkai closed her eyes and tried to block out all the noises coming from inside the room, but to no avail. Please, let it end.

After what seemed like an eternity, the cries became silent for good, and the door opened. Hikoku stepped out of the room, with clothes all disheveled and hair unkempt. His body was covered by sweat, his breathing rather heavy. He turned to Evangeline, who was watching her master with a look void of expression, and said, "Get the room cleaned up before I get back." "Of course, Master." "Oh, and make sure he doesn't die tonight; I still have plans for him." With a low laugh, he left, walking slowly down the corridor until he disappeared into the darkness of the night.

End of Chapter Eight



I finally finished this chapter! Whew. Anyway, the next chapter will have a lot of action (as soon as I get around to writing it). The torture/rape (yes, Kurama was raped) scene was kinda expected since Hikoku is a perverted, EVIL demon. Only makes sense. Sorry.