Skipping straight for the story...here you go.
Chapter 15: The Next Step
Hiei stiffled struggled wails as acid clogged his veins, singeing him through. Syaaka quivered on the ground, sprawled out in pure agony with her severed arm thrust to the floor beside her. Blood laced the floor, seeped mercilessly from Syaaka's butchered limb, and stung tainted in Hiei's chest.
Yukina stared in utter horror...the blood...the death...the pain...it was all because of her...it was her fault Hiei was injected with such corrosive acid. It was her fault he was in such pain. And now, as she watched on in utter fear, Hiei trembled to stay alive.
Pain stung his senses, sizzling without remorse into his entire body. Suddenly, Syaaka began to pulse in heavy laughs, her form jerking back and forth slightly as her voice chuckled louder and harder come each passing second. "It seems I've won..."
"Not yet!" a familiar tone wailed from above, heading straight for the fallen demonness. Syaaka cast fearful eyes upward, the last thing she ever saw being a consuming blast of whiteness that engulfed her entirety, until she completely disintegrated into nothingness. Yusuke landed softly beside the wounded Hiei, angry chocolate eyes glaring harshly at the demonness's singed ashes. Spitting a "tch" sound to his right, he said flatly, "Spirit Gun."
Yukina quivered in shock...so much death...so much pain...and yet her blood eyes had to examine the entire scene.
Hiei collapsed, unable to take the pain any longer. He whimpered against his will, snarling heavy wails of pain. His eyes were pinned wide, sweat drenching his brow under the massive burning tearing his chest apart. Yukina's thoughts abandoned the dead Syaaka and focused solely on the wounded Hiei. 'I'ts all my fault! He's in so much pain! He could die!'
That's when a strong arm leveled Hiei by the waist to a lopsided stand. The fire demon pricked to the side to face Kurama's calm emerald eyes, the fox helping his friend remain steady. "Okay, Hiei..." Kurama studied the corrosive wound with tremendous care. "You need a death seed implanted into that wound."
"Nani?!" Hiei pricked.
"It'll absorb the acid from your system...and it turn the acid will kill the plant...you can take it..."
"Duh I can take it...but that doesn't mean I'll like it..."
"You'll live..." Kurama ended abruptly, slinging Hiei's arm over his shoulder, half-dragging the Koorime towards the wall to set him down. Kuwabara leapt over the scene, forgetting all his valued morals about fighting girls...this girl was evil...she had kept him from his beloved Yukina!
"Yukina!" Kuwabara wailed heartily as he rushed for the mint-haired aperition. Yukina smiled warmly as her boyfriend ran towards her, intending to free her from the rusted shackles clutching her wrists raw.
"Oh Kazuma!" she smiled. Kuwabara halted before the chained Yukina, leveling both hands in midair. "Spirit Sword!" Golden light shot straight upward in his grip, a wild array of a sparking glow caught in his hands. Yukina gaped at the marvelous weapon as it's glow licked her features. Kuwabara lashed the blade through the air, slicing through the rusted chains pinning the little demonness to the jagged stone wall. Yukina yelped slightly as her little form began to collapse for the ground, until Kuwabara caught her gently in his strong arms. Kuwabara chuckled at himself as she cast relieved eyes to him, coiling her arms tightly about his neck in a little hug.
Hiei couldn't help but half-smirk, despite his utter pain. Yukina was safe...and he was the one to save her.
"You're a better brother than you think..." Kurama combed a sprawled hand through his bushy crimson mane, retracting a little branch in his loose hold.
"Hn..." Hiei grunted, leaning lazily against the jagged stone wall, eyes pressed loosely shut, waiting for the overwhelmingly painful acid to be retracted from his body.
"Hiei?" a timid little voice piped softly. The fire demon half- grunted as he opened his crimson eyes to see Yukina. He nearly pricked...but didn't.
"Yes?"
"Um..." Yukina bowed her head low, a soft crimson tinting her face. "Thank you...so much, for, for saving me..." Kuwabara and Yusuke, standing calmly behind the mint-haired beauty, smiled faintly.
Kurama smirked as his nimble hands continued work on the branch of the death plant, snagging the seeds loose. "See?" he smirked harder, eyes shut loosely.
"Hn." Hiei grunted for the silent-laughing fox. He slowly turned his attention for his little sister. "Whatever..." he shrugged, trying to act as normal as possible, but nearly failing.
Yukina pricked faintly. "Oh..."
Kurama slowly pressed a seed into Hiei's open gash--the fire demon snarling hard as the vicious plant took root in his chest--and slowly stood beside Yukina.
"He meant you're welcome," Kurama smiled softly at the girl, who smiled faintly in return. Although Kurama's words were enthusiastic and what everyone wanted to hear, he had been contemplating upon other matters. In these caves, where the scent of his father grew stronger with every step. But he couldn't catch the aroma of Keiko anywhere near here...or...Botan. He feared violently for her life, and was almost at war with himself to remain calm in front of the others...especially Yukina...he couldn't show his truly ruthless side in front of such an innocent, fragile girl, for two reasons. He didn't want her to be exposed to death when the sight isn't necessary...and Hiei would kill him if he traumatized her in any way.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Kurama lead the group through the bowels of the Kyorgin Caves in pure silence...his eyes flashed brilliant as they traveled farther and farther into the vast caves. Hiei stalked silently beside Kurama, eyes piercing straight ahead, their blood shade stinging the darkness. Hiei's wound was still open, and stung from exposure, but the acid had been retracted. Now he had three open gashes in his chest, and acid burns about his arms and collarbone. Yusuke followed close behind the fox, a stern behavior about him. Kuwabara lay a hand gently about Yukina's shoulders, holding the terrified girl loosley as they traveled deeper and deeper into the caverns.
"Hiei..." Yusuke half-asked. "Can you sense Keiko or Botan anywhere near here?"
"My Jagon in having trouble," Hiei half-grunted, his open Jagon almost quivering. "I get flicks of their presence, but then it gets shielded by the wolf's powers."
"Close the eye, then," Kurama ordered softly. "I can lead us through...my father's scent looms throughout the entire mountain...if I can get us to him, no doubt we'll find the girls."
"Fair enough..." Yusuke smirked. 'Keiko...I'll find you.'
"Wait..." Kurama stopped, the others doing likewise. His eyes faded shut as he focused his fox-like sense of smell upon the upcoming cavern. "Keiko!" his emerald eyes flashed wide. "The next cavern!"
Yusuke pushed the demons aside as he sprinted ahead, a violent look about his chocolate eyes. The others rushed after him, the dim, damp cave slowly melting to a wide, half-lit cavern. As the group caught up with the Detective, they found him staring upwards in shock. A huge, iron cage dangled heavily from the cavern's ceiling, Keiko locked into it's rusted barriers. Yusuke's eyes quivered as he focused on his unconscious girlfriend, sprawled over the bottom of the cage, her legs and arms flaying loose between the iron lace.
"Keiko!" Yusuke wailed. The punk whirled around, and rushed away from the cavern. The others watched as Yusuke's form disappeared in the OPPOSITE direction. Yukina, Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama could only blink in confusion.
"Detective!" Hiei called into the darkness. "Your mate is THIS way..."
Suddenly, Yusuke sprinted back, three times as fast as before, a low growl in his throat. Kuwabara pricked, pulling Yukina behind him as Yusuke zoomed by. The fox and dragon stared at the boy, until they understood. Yusuke ran half-way into the cavern, kicking violently off the ground and jumping straight for the cage. Yusuke just reached it, coiling his grip tight about the iron bars and dangling on the underside of Keiko's trap. Yusuke calmly slipped his arm through the cage's bottom, clasping Keiko's arm loosely.
"Hey, Keiko..." Yusuke whispered softly, nudging her arm. "C'mon, wake up..."
"Huh..." her caramel eyes slowly bobbed open, a soft coo of a moan slipping from her. "Yu-Yusuke...?"
"Yeah," he smiled softly from under the cage. "I'm here Keiko...you'll be fine..."
"Yusuke?!" Keiko pricked awake, clasping his hand tightly. Yusuke laced his fingers with hers, smiling brightly from under the bars.
"I'm here...I'm gonna get you out and get you home."
"Oh Yusuke!" Keiko half-scrambled, half-crawled for him, so her face was just above his. She gripped his hand hard, and he gripped hard back. Yusuke smiled softly at her as he dangled under the cage.
"Enough with the romance..." Hiei complained softly, only loud enough for Yukina, Kuwabara, and Kurama to hear.
"I think it's sweet..." Yukina tipped her head slightly at the pair dangling up in midair. Kurama smirked tauntingly down at Hiei with a raised eyebrow, Hiei grunting to himself. Suddenly, Kurama pricked.
"A demon's coming to attack," Kurama jerked his eyes for the far left. Hiei could feel it too, and both fox and dragon awaited calmly for the demon to appear. Kuwabara quivered all over, trembling violently.
"It's so strong!" He braced himself in a hug about Yukina's shoulders, who nestled back in slight fear.
"Keiko..." Yusuke tightened his grip on her hand harder. "Are you hurt?"
"No..." she sighed slightly.
"Three..." Hiei rolled his eyes as the power approached. Yusuke still remained oblivious.
"Good..." Yusuke grinned up at her.
"Two..." Kurama pressed his eyes closed, threading his arms about his chest loosely.
"Does he know what he's doing?!" Kuwabara half-wailed at the two demons, who didn't respond.
"Kazuma! He'll be hurt!" Yukina jerked her head upward to face Kuwabara, fear staining her scarlet eyes.
"One," Both fox and dragon declared in softly-firm unsion, both flashing their eyes wide, staring straight ahead with firm, serious glares. Suddenly, a huge booming noise echoed hard into the cavern, shaking the entire space. Kurama and Hiei had already braced themselves firm, and remained unmoving as the quake jerked the cavern up and down. Kuwabara collapsed after a few shakes, Yukina braced tightly in his arms, landing on top of him, both yelping slightly. The cage whipped from side to side, Yusuke threading his other arm through and, wrapping it about Keiko's back, pinned her tightly to the bottom of the cage, his strong arm clasping her firm. The banging noise broke through one of the cavern walls, debris and dust clouding that entire half of the cave. Kurama raised an eyebrow at the strength. Hiei was half-impressed so far. Kuwabara pinned himself firm against a wall, holding Yukina firmly.
The demon, still veiled from the dust and from darkness, zipped slyly into the depths of the space. Kurama and Hiei, of course, seeing the foe from the start. The enemy pounding through the cool air, halting at the cage. Yusuke didn't even get a glimpse when a punch hooked into his jaw, forcing him violently from his grip to the cage. Yusuke collapsed straight downward, his upper-back slamming hard into the crumbled rock. Debris and dust clouded on impact, and there Yusuke lay, the new foe laughing silently at the fallen Detective.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Anemone: yo...what did you think?
Hiei: not as much violence...
Anemone: *sigh* I know, Hiei...but it was too long to get into another fight...this is a good place to pause.
Hiei: hn...
Kurama: I love this! This is so cool! Anemone, you're an amazing writer...
Anemone: tell me something I don't know...
Hiei: way to go, Kitsune...now she's full of herself...
Anemone: am not...
Kurama: oh well...she can be a little proud of her work...I know I am!
Anemone: thanks, Kurama sweety...
Kurama: you're welcome. What about you folks? Do you like the story thus far?
Anemone: review and let me know, peeps. Latr.
Chapter 15: The Next Step
Hiei stiffled struggled wails as acid clogged his veins, singeing him through. Syaaka quivered on the ground, sprawled out in pure agony with her severed arm thrust to the floor beside her. Blood laced the floor, seeped mercilessly from Syaaka's butchered limb, and stung tainted in Hiei's chest.
Yukina stared in utter horror...the blood...the death...the pain...it was all because of her...it was her fault Hiei was injected with such corrosive acid. It was her fault he was in such pain. And now, as she watched on in utter fear, Hiei trembled to stay alive.
Pain stung his senses, sizzling without remorse into his entire body. Suddenly, Syaaka began to pulse in heavy laughs, her form jerking back and forth slightly as her voice chuckled louder and harder come each passing second. "It seems I've won..."
"Not yet!" a familiar tone wailed from above, heading straight for the fallen demonness. Syaaka cast fearful eyes upward, the last thing she ever saw being a consuming blast of whiteness that engulfed her entirety, until she completely disintegrated into nothingness. Yusuke landed softly beside the wounded Hiei, angry chocolate eyes glaring harshly at the demonness's singed ashes. Spitting a "tch" sound to his right, he said flatly, "Spirit Gun."
Yukina quivered in shock...so much death...so much pain...and yet her blood eyes had to examine the entire scene.
Hiei collapsed, unable to take the pain any longer. He whimpered against his will, snarling heavy wails of pain. His eyes were pinned wide, sweat drenching his brow under the massive burning tearing his chest apart. Yukina's thoughts abandoned the dead Syaaka and focused solely on the wounded Hiei. 'I'ts all my fault! He's in so much pain! He could die!'
That's when a strong arm leveled Hiei by the waist to a lopsided stand. The fire demon pricked to the side to face Kurama's calm emerald eyes, the fox helping his friend remain steady. "Okay, Hiei..." Kurama studied the corrosive wound with tremendous care. "You need a death seed implanted into that wound."
"Nani?!" Hiei pricked.
"It'll absorb the acid from your system...and it turn the acid will kill the plant...you can take it..."
"Duh I can take it...but that doesn't mean I'll like it..."
"You'll live..." Kurama ended abruptly, slinging Hiei's arm over his shoulder, half-dragging the Koorime towards the wall to set him down. Kuwabara leapt over the scene, forgetting all his valued morals about fighting girls...this girl was evil...she had kept him from his beloved Yukina!
"Yukina!" Kuwabara wailed heartily as he rushed for the mint-haired aperition. Yukina smiled warmly as her boyfriend ran towards her, intending to free her from the rusted shackles clutching her wrists raw.
"Oh Kazuma!" she smiled. Kuwabara halted before the chained Yukina, leveling both hands in midair. "Spirit Sword!" Golden light shot straight upward in his grip, a wild array of a sparking glow caught in his hands. Yukina gaped at the marvelous weapon as it's glow licked her features. Kuwabara lashed the blade through the air, slicing through the rusted chains pinning the little demonness to the jagged stone wall. Yukina yelped slightly as her little form began to collapse for the ground, until Kuwabara caught her gently in his strong arms. Kuwabara chuckled at himself as she cast relieved eyes to him, coiling her arms tightly about his neck in a little hug.
Hiei couldn't help but half-smirk, despite his utter pain. Yukina was safe...and he was the one to save her.
"You're a better brother than you think..." Kurama combed a sprawled hand through his bushy crimson mane, retracting a little branch in his loose hold.
"Hn..." Hiei grunted, leaning lazily against the jagged stone wall, eyes pressed loosely shut, waiting for the overwhelmingly painful acid to be retracted from his body.
"Hiei?" a timid little voice piped softly. The fire demon half- grunted as he opened his crimson eyes to see Yukina. He nearly pricked...but didn't.
"Yes?"
"Um..." Yukina bowed her head low, a soft crimson tinting her face. "Thank you...so much, for, for saving me..." Kuwabara and Yusuke, standing calmly behind the mint-haired beauty, smiled faintly.
Kurama smirked as his nimble hands continued work on the branch of the death plant, snagging the seeds loose. "See?" he smirked harder, eyes shut loosely.
"Hn." Hiei grunted for the silent-laughing fox. He slowly turned his attention for his little sister. "Whatever..." he shrugged, trying to act as normal as possible, but nearly failing.
Yukina pricked faintly. "Oh..."
Kurama slowly pressed a seed into Hiei's open gash--the fire demon snarling hard as the vicious plant took root in his chest--and slowly stood beside Yukina.
"He meant you're welcome," Kurama smiled softly at the girl, who smiled faintly in return. Although Kurama's words were enthusiastic and what everyone wanted to hear, he had been contemplating upon other matters. In these caves, where the scent of his father grew stronger with every step. But he couldn't catch the aroma of Keiko anywhere near here...or...Botan. He feared violently for her life, and was almost at war with himself to remain calm in front of the others...especially Yukina...he couldn't show his truly ruthless side in front of such an innocent, fragile girl, for two reasons. He didn't want her to be exposed to death when the sight isn't necessary...and Hiei would kill him if he traumatized her in any way.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Kurama lead the group through the bowels of the Kyorgin Caves in pure silence...his eyes flashed brilliant as they traveled farther and farther into the vast caves. Hiei stalked silently beside Kurama, eyes piercing straight ahead, their blood shade stinging the darkness. Hiei's wound was still open, and stung from exposure, but the acid had been retracted. Now he had three open gashes in his chest, and acid burns about his arms and collarbone. Yusuke followed close behind the fox, a stern behavior about him. Kuwabara lay a hand gently about Yukina's shoulders, holding the terrified girl loosley as they traveled deeper and deeper into the caverns.
"Hiei..." Yusuke half-asked. "Can you sense Keiko or Botan anywhere near here?"
"My Jagon in having trouble," Hiei half-grunted, his open Jagon almost quivering. "I get flicks of their presence, but then it gets shielded by the wolf's powers."
"Close the eye, then," Kurama ordered softly. "I can lead us through...my father's scent looms throughout the entire mountain...if I can get us to him, no doubt we'll find the girls."
"Fair enough..." Yusuke smirked. 'Keiko...I'll find you.'
"Wait..." Kurama stopped, the others doing likewise. His eyes faded shut as he focused his fox-like sense of smell upon the upcoming cavern. "Keiko!" his emerald eyes flashed wide. "The next cavern!"
Yusuke pushed the demons aside as he sprinted ahead, a violent look about his chocolate eyes. The others rushed after him, the dim, damp cave slowly melting to a wide, half-lit cavern. As the group caught up with the Detective, they found him staring upwards in shock. A huge, iron cage dangled heavily from the cavern's ceiling, Keiko locked into it's rusted barriers. Yusuke's eyes quivered as he focused on his unconscious girlfriend, sprawled over the bottom of the cage, her legs and arms flaying loose between the iron lace.
"Keiko!" Yusuke wailed. The punk whirled around, and rushed away from the cavern. The others watched as Yusuke's form disappeared in the OPPOSITE direction. Yukina, Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama could only blink in confusion.
"Detective!" Hiei called into the darkness. "Your mate is THIS way..."
Suddenly, Yusuke sprinted back, three times as fast as before, a low growl in his throat. Kuwabara pricked, pulling Yukina behind him as Yusuke zoomed by. The fox and dragon stared at the boy, until they understood. Yusuke ran half-way into the cavern, kicking violently off the ground and jumping straight for the cage. Yusuke just reached it, coiling his grip tight about the iron bars and dangling on the underside of Keiko's trap. Yusuke calmly slipped his arm through the cage's bottom, clasping Keiko's arm loosely.
"Hey, Keiko..." Yusuke whispered softly, nudging her arm. "C'mon, wake up..."
"Huh..." her caramel eyes slowly bobbed open, a soft coo of a moan slipping from her. "Yu-Yusuke...?"
"Yeah," he smiled softly from under the cage. "I'm here Keiko...you'll be fine..."
"Yusuke?!" Keiko pricked awake, clasping his hand tightly. Yusuke laced his fingers with hers, smiling brightly from under the bars.
"I'm here...I'm gonna get you out and get you home."
"Oh Yusuke!" Keiko half-scrambled, half-crawled for him, so her face was just above his. She gripped his hand hard, and he gripped hard back. Yusuke smiled softly at her as he dangled under the cage.
"Enough with the romance..." Hiei complained softly, only loud enough for Yukina, Kuwabara, and Kurama to hear.
"I think it's sweet..." Yukina tipped her head slightly at the pair dangling up in midair. Kurama smirked tauntingly down at Hiei with a raised eyebrow, Hiei grunting to himself. Suddenly, Kurama pricked.
"A demon's coming to attack," Kurama jerked his eyes for the far left. Hiei could feel it too, and both fox and dragon awaited calmly for the demon to appear. Kuwabara quivered all over, trembling violently.
"It's so strong!" He braced himself in a hug about Yukina's shoulders, who nestled back in slight fear.
"Keiko..." Yusuke tightened his grip on her hand harder. "Are you hurt?"
"No..." she sighed slightly.
"Three..." Hiei rolled his eyes as the power approached. Yusuke still remained oblivious.
"Good..." Yusuke grinned up at her.
"Two..." Kurama pressed his eyes closed, threading his arms about his chest loosely.
"Does he know what he's doing?!" Kuwabara half-wailed at the two demons, who didn't respond.
"Kazuma! He'll be hurt!" Yukina jerked her head upward to face Kuwabara, fear staining her scarlet eyes.
"One," Both fox and dragon declared in softly-firm unsion, both flashing their eyes wide, staring straight ahead with firm, serious glares. Suddenly, a huge booming noise echoed hard into the cavern, shaking the entire space. Kurama and Hiei had already braced themselves firm, and remained unmoving as the quake jerked the cavern up and down. Kuwabara collapsed after a few shakes, Yukina braced tightly in his arms, landing on top of him, both yelping slightly. The cage whipped from side to side, Yusuke threading his other arm through and, wrapping it about Keiko's back, pinned her tightly to the bottom of the cage, his strong arm clasping her firm. The banging noise broke through one of the cavern walls, debris and dust clouding that entire half of the cave. Kurama raised an eyebrow at the strength. Hiei was half-impressed so far. Kuwabara pinned himself firm against a wall, holding Yukina firmly.
The demon, still veiled from the dust and from darkness, zipped slyly into the depths of the space. Kurama and Hiei, of course, seeing the foe from the start. The enemy pounding through the cool air, halting at the cage. Yusuke didn't even get a glimpse when a punch hooked into his jaw, forcing him violently from his grip to the cage. Yusuke collapsed straight downward, his upper-back slamming hard into the crumbled rock. Debris and dust clouded on impact, and there Yusuke lay, the new foe laughing silently at the fallen Detective.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Anemone: yo...what did you think?
Hiei: not as much violence...
Anemone: *sigh* I know, Hiei...but it was too long to get into another fight...this is a good place to pause.
Hiei: hn...
Kurama: I love this! This is so cool! Anemone, you're an amazing writer...
Anemone: tell me something I don't know...
Hiei: way to go, Kitsune...now she's full of herself...
Anemone: am not...
Kurama: oh well...she can be a little proud of her work...I know I am!
Anemone: thanks, Kurama sweety...
Kurama: you're welcome. What about you folks? Do you like the story thus far?
Anemone: review and let me know, peeps. Latr.