Of Demons and Roses
Chapter 8: Fight!
Slight language warning!!! Just fyi!!
Nobara and Hiei stood staring at each other, both ready to fight. Nobara had come a long way in only a short time. Kurama and Hiei were very proud of their daughter. She learned tricks and tips from both of her parents, and even developed a few tricks of her own.
Nobara felt as if she was ready to take on her strong father. She could feel the difference in her spirit energy from when she started to now. It has greatly increased. However, in all her training, she was never able to beat Hiei. And, it was only two days ago that she was able to beat Kurama, which was not an easy fight. Nobara knew that Hiei would be an even tougher opponent.
The father daughter duo decided to use their weapons for the fight, which made it even more dangerous, for both of them. Nobara had tied her hair in a higher ponytail to keep it out of her way. Kurama was going to act as the referee for the match.
"Ready?" Kurama asked each fighter. They both nodded, with the same expression on their faces.
"FIGHT!" yell Kurama and jumped back to avoid the two on coming bodies.
Both of them decided to go on the offence. They moved so fast that a normal person would barely be able to see them. However, Kurama watched every move carefully.
For the most part, the fight was mostly a clash of a sword and a staff. Hiei kept it close range so Nobara couldn't shoot her arrows. Nobara knew this. She stayed on the offence, hoping that Hiei would eventually turn to the defense, giving her the advantage. Hiei's plan was to get Nobara on the defense, giving himself the advantage. The battle within this fight was to see who could last on the offence longer.
"It's amazing how much stronger Nobara has gotten. She is almost equally match with Hiei, in both strength and speed. This match is going to be close," said Kurama, thinking out loud.
Hiei and Nobara continued to fight, with neither of them showing any signs of backing down. They both had a look of determination in their eyes. Of corse, Hiei wanted to win the fight, but he had another goal in mind. He wanted to push Nobara to her limits, which is the only she could get stronger. But there is a second reason...
Neither Kurama nor Hiei knew what Nobara's true demon form is like. Would she be more like Kurama or more like Hiei? The only way her true demon side would emerge is if she was pushed to her limits, and she used her full power. So, to find this out, Hiei moved gradually faster and used slightly more power as their duel progressed. However, their fight would be rudely interrupted before Hiei could accomplish his goal...
Without warning, the space where Kurama stood suddenly got darker. Nobara felt her sensed jump and stopped fighting. She landed on a branch of a nearby tree. Hiei knew what was going on because he sensed something too. Kurama also felt something, and knew it was after him. He saw the darkness approaching and jumped to free himself from it. Hiei and Nobara saw the darkness, and all three knew what it was.
"Nice block pretty boy," came a voice from the darkness. Kokuei appeared in that spot.
"Nobara, you've improved. I'm impressed. I thought I'd have to wait much longer!" he said.
Nobara became angry at the mere sight of Kokuei. Every time she saw him, she thought of that tragic day when she lost her best friend. The fact that it all caused by him was something Nobara could never forgive.
"So what's that to you?!" Nobara snapped back. Kurama was shocked because he had never seen his daughter so angry before.
"Oh not much," he replied mockingly, "Only that you could get revenge for what I did to your friend."
Nobara clenched her fist and it shook with rage. She jumped down from the tree, leaving her father's side, to look her enemy straight in the eye. He still carried that evil, teasing smile on his face. Kokuei could see the rage in the demon girl's eyes, which only made him more cocky.
"But not now. The time isn't right," he said.
"What the hell do you mean by that? Then why the hell did you show up?! Tell be, you bastard!!!" yelled Nobara in a fury. By now, even Hiei was shocked at her rage. Kokuei just smiled.
"Relax, would you? You'll know when the time is right. Trust me," he said as he did his usual trick of disappearing.
"Trust you?! When hell freezes over!" Nobara said in the same mockery as Kokuei, only angrier.
Kurama and Hiei came down from their posts to be by their daughter. They both know that it takes a lot for Nobara to snap. But Kokuei did just the right things for that to happen!
"Kasan. Otosan. I'm gonna train by myself for awhile more. I'll be back late," Nobara said without even turning to look at her parents. By then, it was late afternoon.
"Ok Nobara. I leave something out for you in the kitchen then. Be careful," answered Kurama. Nobara walked into the darker, more dangerous part of the woods with her staff, as Kurama and Hiei headed for their house. Hiei was determined to look after his daughter with his jagon eye.
It was to be a melancholy evening for all three family members.