Of Demons and Roses
Chapter 12: Enraged Anger
Kurama tried to focus on Kokuei's location, but his wound made it difficult. Kurama was able to stay on his feet, but his spirit energy had greatly decreased. He knew he couldn't last much longer in his demon form, so he had to act fast. Then, he got an idea.
Kurama seemed to drop his guard for a split second, letting Kokuei have the advantage. It forced Kokuei out of the shadows to attack Kurama. However, he was ready. Kurama knew that Kokuei would strike from behind when he dropped his guard. So, he fooled Kokuei into coming out of the shadows by making it seem like he dropped his guard.
Just as Kokuei was about to strike, Kurama landed a punch on his head and another on his stomach. This happened so fast that Nobara could barely keep up with it. However, the action wasn't over. Kokuei paused for a minute, then lashed out at Kurama. A series of rapid punches came from both of them.
Then, Kokuei was finally able to land a punch, right on Kurama's wound. That sent Kurama crashing down to the ground. At this point, Hiei couldn't take this anymore. As Kokuei was racing to the fallen Kurama, Hiei intercepted his path and brought him crashing down with a punch to the face. In the meantime, Nobara rushed to her fallen mother, who was no longer a Youko.
"Hiei, I'm surprised. I didn't think you would get so emotional about this," said Kokuei as he got up. His words just made Hiei even more angry than he already was.
"I had planned a painless death for your fox, but oh well," Kokuei continued to piss Hiei off. Big mistake.
Hiei lashed out at Kokuei in anger. He moves even faster than Kurama, making it even harder for Nobara to keep up. Hiei and Kokuei were evenly matched.
While they were busy fighting, Nobara stayed by Kurama's side. She took the jacket she was wearing off to try to clean off Kurama's bloodstained body. Then, she ripped off her left pant leg to wrap around her mother's open wound. The whole time, Kurama was fighting just to stay conscious.
"Kasan?" whispered Nobara when she was finished tending to Kurama's wounds. "You're gonna be alright Kasan! Just hold on!" Tears came to Nobara's eyes.
"Nobara..." said Kurama as he lifted his hand to touch Nobara's face and wipe away her tears. "Don't worry Nobara!" Kurama smiled, making Nobara feel better.
They both turned to watch the fight, which had been oblivious to them. Kokuei and Hiei didn't seem to back down. Both of them enraged with anger that they didn't even plan out strategies. They just wanted to fight. And that's what they did.
"They are so consumed with anger that they can't even think straight," said Kurama. Nobara looked at him in shock.
"But... if they're not thinking straight, then they could do something careless and die!" answered Nobara, thinking out loud. Kurama closed his eyes and nodded solemnly. Nobara turned back and watched her father fight.
"Otosan..." she whispered.
Just then, Kokuei landed a hard punch on Hiei and forced him to take to the defensive. Nobara's eyes widened. Hiei got back up and the two started fighting again. They were both wasting energy and warring each other out. Kurama and Nobara could sense the spirit energy seeping out of both of them.
Nobara hated watching her parents fight a deadly battle like this. She had already seen her mother almost get killed, and now her father fighting a loosing battle. She knew that if Kokuei didn't kill him, his anger would. Nobara couldn't take it anymore. She stood up and started walking towards the raging battle.
"Nobara!!! Nobara, what are you doing?!" Kurama called to Nobara. She stopped, turned back to Kurama and smiled. Then, she walked on. Nobara was determined to settle this once and for all.
"Well Hiei, it looks like your daughter wants to fight too," said Kokuei, turning his attention to Nobara. Hiei was stunned.
"Nobara..." said Hiei. He knew it would come to this. He and Kurama both. But the time has come. Nobara had to start walking the path she was meant to. Her parents just wish it wouldn't be this hard.
"Otosan, let me fight him. I have to avenge Niji's death. That's the only way Niji can rest in peace and that my wounds will be truly healed. Niji died saving my life, and this is the only way I can think of to thank her for it. But it's more than that. This is the life I was meant to have. There's no way around that. I know you understand... Kasan, Otosan. I have to do this," said Nobara as she prepared to fight. She had picked up her staff from where Hiei left it.
"How touching my dear. But can you hold true to your words?" said Kokuei as he started to attack. Nobara didn't move. She was slowly raising her spirit energy to a level it had never been before. Kokuei used an attack he never did before. It was a ball formed out of spirit energy.
"Like it Nobara? It's my shadow bomb, and this will kill you," said Kokuei before he threw it at Nobara. "Say 'hi' to your friend for me!"
Nobara held her ground and watched it get bigger as it came closer. When it got close enough, Nobara struck out at it, causing a huge explosion. Hiei had moved over to Kurama to protect him from the explosion. Then there was a cloud of dust and no sign of Nobara. Tears came to Kurama's eyes and he fell into Hiei's arms. Hiei held Kurama as he stared at the spot where Nobara was standing. Kokuei was laughing evilly and in delight that he killed Hiei's daughter.
Out of nowhere, extraordinary spirit energy appeared. Kurama sensed it and looked up. As the dust rose, a figure appeared. The figure was holding Nobara's staff. However, this person didn't look like Nobara.
She had very light orange hair, fox ears and a fox tail a shade darker than her hair. Her hair had come out of it's pony tail and was loose. It is the same length has Nobara's usually red hair. She seems a little taller than Nobara. But, it was Nobara, because she has two different colored eyes. One of her eyes was red and the other was yellow, like Kurama's eyes when he is Youko. She had a death glare in her eyes, aimed right at Kokuei.
"Nobara... she's a Youko!" said Kurama in surprise. Hiei was too shocked to speak.
Author's notes: Nobara's short speech near the end is supposed to be like the song "Somewhere I Belong" by Linkin Park.