*Anemone's room...Hiei, Kurama and Anemone are listening to DoubleDrive's "Imprint", Kurama singing along...very well*
Kurama: One Step...I make an Imprint...Two steps is commitment...Three steps, I'm not done yet, draw my other leg up...and the pace is set...
Hiei: *impressed* nice voice, Kistune...
Anemone: yeah! Who knew Kurama could sing?!
Kurama: ...Gotta tell you what I feel...although your tank is running low...over the split-life for real...pat the hood you're good to go...
Anemone: while he does that...here you go, chapter 16.
Kurama: ...hear you now! you're cut from the cords of the wicked...
Hiei and Anemone: *cheering him on, first time he ever sang* woo! yeah!
Chapter 16: Spirit Gun
Yusuke snarled hard...a firm pain stung his back from the impact with the rock floor. "That's it! You're dead!" the Detective growled at the laughing aperition floating above. It was a male this time, a young teenager from the looks of it. A short, bushy poison-green mane sprouted from his scalp, gathered in the back in a short ponytail, thick, spiked tufts of bangs hanging loose. His eyes were sharp and narrow, a vicious shade of silver that stung against the shadow veiling his face. His build resembled Yusuke's, same height and same muscle span. Straight across his chest was a deep gash in Japanese calligraphy reading "Intimidation".
Kurama and Hiei examined the foe with sincerity. "He's strong," Kurama showed no facial emotion. Hiei grunted.
Yukina, lying on top of Kuwabara's chest, cast her eyes upward. "Oh no, Kazuma...what if Yusuke gets hurt?"
"Calm down, Yukina..." Kuwabara strung his arms protectively about her back. "Urimeshi'll be fine..."
"Are...are you sure, Kazuma?" she locked her crimson eyes into his blue ones.
"I'm certain," Kurama piped, without a motion towards either of them, but staring intently at the demon floating in the air. "That Yusuke will be alright, Yukina."
"Hn..." Hiei grunted, linking himself to Kurama in a telepathic conversation. 'Too much bloodshed will make her traumatized, Kitsune...'
'I know, Hiei.'
'Then why don't you go in there and stop this before it starts?' Hiei cast in eyes upward curiously to the fox as his thoughts entered Kurama's head.
Kurama smirked with a vocally silent response. 'Why not you?'
'You're practically a doctor, Kistune...you should know my injuries are too fresh for another fight just yet...'
'It's a good thing we're speaking telepathically,' Kurama chuckled softly. 'You'd never admit that outwardly...'
'Answer me Kistune,' Hiei grunted. 'Why don't you go in there? This demon has very interesting powers...it could tear the Detective apart.'
'Because, Hiei,' Kurama's soft eyes faceted hard and cold. 'I'm to fight my father. And besides..." Kurama smirked calmly. "...denying Yusuke the honor of rescuing his own girlfriend...that'd be somewhat cruel, would it not?'
"Hn..." Hiei grunted vocally, severing their telepathic tie. The Koorime cast sharp scarlet eyes for the foe laughing maniacally down at Yusuke. "Whatever, Kistune..."
Kuwabara blinked in confusion at the fox and dragon. That was wierd what they just did. First, they just stood there, Hiei looked at Kurama, Kurama smirked then laughed, then Hiei grunted, then Kurama looked all serious for a minute, then he smirked again, and then Hiei grunted and said whatever Kistune, all the while neither of them talking. "The hell-?" Kuwabara blinked awkwardly. "What was that little display about?!"
Yukina nodded in agreement, still caught on top of Kuwabara's chest. "Um, yes what was that you just did?"
Kurama and Hiei smirked to themselves. "Later..." Hiei grunted, gazing upwardly at Yusuke's foe.
"Indeed," Kurama nodded, following the dragon's example.
"Hmpf..." Kuwabara glared daggers at the demon's backs, gripping Yukina tightly. "Those guys are ALWAYS doing that to me..."
Yusuke braced his arms firmly beneath his quivering form. Pain struck his upper back, a vicious zap of pain that her forced away with a sharp snarl. The teenager leveled himself balanced on sprawled legs, glaring chocolate daggers for the floating demon above. "You're gonna pay for that!"
"I think not..." the demon smirked as a sly, velvet voice cooed from his chuckling form.
"Bastard!"
"Refrain from swears before the delicate ladies," the green-haired foe smirked, motioning towards Keiko and Yukina, Keiko pinning against the farthest wall of her cage from the demon, and Yukina tightening her hug in Kuwabara's protective arms. "Besides, 'Bastard' is not my name...I AM, however, called Kruntag."
"Kruntag, Dirtbag..." Yusuke smirked. "Not much of a difference to me."
"Illiterate, are we?"
"The most!" Yusuke cracked his knees in a low bend, pushing off against the ground into a high leap for Kruntag. The green-haired aperition's silver eyes blinked slow, jerking wide with a change in them. They were even fiercer, and more deadly. A violent flash shot from his eyes, and Yusuke froze mid-jump. The Detective struggled hard in midair, but was unable to move.
Kruntag smirked deep, tilting his head for the right a brief instant. Yusuke's arms pinned hard against his sides, his elbows bruising into his hip. Yusuke snarled a half-wince at the impact. Suddenly, his legs knuckled tightly together, bruising and chaffing at the tightness. Yusuke's face singed red from strain as he struggled to force himself loose.
"That won't help him...Kruntag's power over body limbs is too strong." Kurama thought aloud.
"What do you mean?" Kuwabara inquired faintly.
"He needs an immense amount of Spirit Energy to break loose...not just all his physical strength. Of course, doing so he'd waste his Spirit Gun...Kruntag is quite the formidable opponet."
"What?! You mean even if he CAN break loose he won't be able to shoot a Spirit Gun?!"
"Isn't that what he just said?" Hiei glared over his shoulder. He yearned to rip into Kuwabara's limbs, tear him apart for STILL cradling Yukina against his chest...but he couldn't because Kurama was right there.
"Indeed," Kurama nodded calmly. "But, Yusuke has been getting stronger...so, he may be able to shoot a bullet...but..."
"But...?" Kuwabara bowed his head slightly, eyes cast up at the fox in hope.
"But...he may singe his arm right off with raw Spirit Energy."
"What?!" Kuwabara wailed. Yukina flashed worried eyes from fox to dragon, who seemed unmoved by this at the moment.
"Ugh!!" Yusuke struggled hard in the tight bind. "Asshole!"
"Tisk, I already asked you to refrain from swears, Detective," Kruntag smirked menacing eyes, tightening the bind about the wriggling Yusuke.
"C'mon, Yusuke, you idiot!!" Keiko leapt to the center of her cage, cheering her boyfriend on. "Break free!!"
"I'm TRYING, Keiko!!" Yusuke snarled. Kruntag growled as a deep smirk graced his face.
"Couple's Counciling, anyone?" he chuckled.
"Shut up!" Yusuke and Keiko grunted in angry unison.
Kruntag's smirk deepened sharp. Suddenly, with a cat's grace, the green-haired demon snaked through a hole of Keiko's cage. The girl quivered in fear, a trembling wail echoing throughout the entire cavern. Kruntag smirked slyly at the helpless human, approaching her slowly with evil staining his handsome features.
"Get away!" Keiko shrieked.
"I think not..." Kruntag smirked.
"Keiko!" Yusuke hollored through strained breaths. "Get the HELL AWAY from her!!"
Keiko sprawled her hand wide, an angry expression swarming her little face. Her palm swat through the air, aimed for a raw slap across Kruntag's face. The green-haired villian jerked his eyes wide for a brief second, Keiko's entire form falling limp against her will and collapsing to the bottom of the cage. He smirked down at her deviously, his silver eyes glowing through the shadow shading his face. Keiko screamed hard, unable to move her now flabby body.
Kurama and Hiei stared in shock. Kuwabara and Yukina quivered slightly in fear. "No!" Kurama breathed coarsely. The fox pounded off into the depths of the cavern, leaping upward into the air for the cage. Yusuke cast confused eyes at the red-head, who clasped a hand at Yusuke's arm, both floating in midair. Without hesitation, the fox sprawled his palm wide, a strain quivering it violently. Suddenly, a beam of hunter's green shot from his fingertips, molding to a glowing ball in his open hand.
"I'm lending you some Spirit Energy," Kurama husked his calm voice. "Don't waste your own to break free...use this..." with that, the fox forced the ball hard against Yusuke's chest. The Detective snarled firmly, the glowing ball seeping slowly under his flesh. Kurama quickly kicked off against Yusuke's back, shooting for the cage. The fox gripped hard to the lacing bars, an angry, ruthless glaze about his calm, emerald eyes. With stunning acrobatics, Kurama forced the cage in a swinging motion back and forth. Kruntag cast angry eyes for the humanoid red-head, flashing them wide for a second. A numb feeling struck over the fox, for a brief moment. With a shoot of Spirit Energy, Kurama forced through the bind, continuing the swing. Kruntag was too shocked to set himself firmly in the cage, and he tipped over, landing on top of the immobilized Keiko.
"Damn!" Kurama half-winced, half-stared. "Keiko!"
Beads of red shot from her mouth, her eyes quivering wide. Kruntag had elbowed her deeply in the stomach. "Keiko!!" Yusuke wailed, a deep growl echoing in his throat. Kurama ripped into the iron bars of the cage, leaping inside gracefully. The fox yanked Kruntag from Keiko's stomach, thrusting him through the open slot of the cage. Kruntag, however, was no longer helpless.
"HA!" Kruntag halted in midair, forcing an immense amount of his power upon binding Kurama. The fox snarled a sharp wince as his arms hugged about him tightly, bruising himself from the tight grip Kruntag forced. Kurama's knees buckled tight, the fox unable to force them apart. Kurama's eyes flashed angrily in a poison emerald.
'Why won't this thing work?!' Kurama locked his gaze upon the ruby strung about his neck. It still glowed faintly scarlet, but Kurama was still lacking his truest power. 'This isn't the most dire of situations?! Damn...!'
Kruntag smirked under the immense pressure of holding the fox tight. "You're harder to hold than the Detective..." he chuckled deviously through strained breaths. "That must mean you can control your Spirit Energy better than him..." Kruntag pulled his arms back, dragging the struggling fox from the cage. Keiko, a tiny sliver of blood seeping out from the corner of her lip, stuttered after him. "No...Kurama..."
Kurama snarled hard, growling with the sincerity of a lone wolf. His face, that brief expression before he was thrust mercilessly against the jagged stone walls of the cavern, the look of thirst for death, was stronger to his wolf heritage than to his fox...it was the first time Kurama had ever stared with a wolf's murder eyes. The look was missed by Kruntag's slowness...but Hiei had caught it. He was surprised, to say the least.
'My, Kistune...' Hiei blinked wide, shocked eyes. 'You ARE half-wolf...that face...I've only seen it once...' Hiei bowed his chin downward, his crimson eyes watching the scene just as intently. 'The last time I saw your father...rage is new to you, I can tell...keep it under wraps until we must face your father, though...that is all I can say.'
Kruntag laughed insanely at Kurama as the fox rammed into the stone wall. "Although it takes much of my energy, I CAN control you!!"
Kurama's body lay sprawled and limp on the floor. The fox had hit the wall too hard, and he had sacrificed too much energy to Yusuke. As the dust cleared to reveal Kurama lying in a puddle of his own blood, eneryone, let Kruntag, pricked in horror.
"Kitsune!" Hiei blurred into the air towards the fox, jerking to a strained halt before the fallen humaniod. 'his human body is too sensitive to impacts like that without his normal amount of Spirit Energy,' Hiei examined the unconscious Kurama silently. 'although he is one of the strongest demons to date, he gave too much Spirit Energy to the Detective, and didn't keep enough for himself...' Hiei crouched by the fox's side, coiling an arm around his stomach to support Kurama against his shoulder. Blood seeped thickly from an open gash at Kurama's chest. Hiei cast his crimson eyes upward to Yusuke. 'Detective...he gave his needed Spirit Energy to you...you better not waste it.'
Yusuke stared in shock at the fox. "Kurama..." he stuttered slowly. Suddenly, his eyes hardened firm. "I WON'T WASTE YOUR ENERGY!" he wailed, a low scream escaping his form as he focused on his bound limbs. Pain stung him blind, but the enraged teenager forced through it. Suddenly, he jerked backwards, his arms and legs flaying loose as he collapsed to the ground. "Yes!!" he smirked, flipping to the rugged stone floor. The Detective glared copper daggers to the poison-haired aperition above. "Die..." Yusuke set his gunning arm firm, aiming angrily for Kruntag. "Spirit..." his tone was low and threatening, whiteness gathering slowly at the tip of his finger. "GUN!!"
A gigantic wave of whiteness shot viciously from his arm, engufling the dim cavern in a stunning white glare. As his last move, Kruntag quickly cast an enchantment on Yusuke's gunning arm, before severing into the engulfing blast of Spirit Energy.
Yusuke smirked faintly at his work, until a rithling pain pulsed maddeningly forcefully through his gunning arm. Yusuke snarled sharp winces, collapsing under the massive pain. After several tense moments, his arm fell limp, and Yusuke was unable to shoot, aim, or even lift his arm.
"Urimeshi!!" Kuwabara kicked off against the wall, setting Yukina to the ground lightly and rushing for his rival. "Urimeshi...you okay?"
"Just peachy..." Yusuke forced a pained smirk, steadying himself firm. "Kurama..." he tried to turn in the direction the fox had collapsed, but he in turn fell. Kuwabara caught him gently, keeping him set straight. Hiei approached the group slowly, an unconscious Kurama leaned on his shoulder.
"The Kitsune isn't well..." Hiei scoffed quietly. "He gave up too much energy for the Detective...that impact with the wall was too much for him..."
"What are you saying?" Yusuke eyed Hiei suspiciously.
"Kurama had the energy level of a two-year-old human boy," Hiei cast his eyes low. "the wall was too sharp and hard...his remaining energy is slipping fast."
Yukina pricked in a start. "But...he can't...you don't mean he could..."
"He gave me that much energy?!" Yusuke snarled. "No...no, why did he do that?!"
Crimson beaded at Kurama's chin, slipping over the peak and dripping off to the floor. Red soaked deep into the fibers of his blue button-down, and the wrinkles of the rolled sleeves stained in scarlet. The fox didn't move, and was hardly breathing against Hiei's shoulder. Yukina about burst.
"I know my healing powers aren't that good, but I must try!" the mint-haired beauty pinched her face in determination. She rolled the sleeves of her teal kimono above her elbows, motioning for Hiei to plant the fox to the ground. Hiei hesitantly lay his friend to the floor, noting just how much blood shed from him. Scars at his neck, chest, stomach, and shoulder all seeped in thick masses of blood. Hiei cast his crimson eyes for the wall, a small gasp sharpening his breaths. Blood smeared every-which-way, tainting that whole side of the cavern red.
"You are a fool, Kurama..." Hiei breathed hard. "You needed that energy for your father...how could you part with it..."
Suddenly, Yusuke pricked. "Keiko!!" he wailed, pushing Kuwabara's hold on him away. "Oh God Keiko!" the Detective pounced for the ripped cage, dangling by it's rounded hole's edge with his left arm, his gunning arm still limp. Yusuke kicked himself in the swinging cage, casting pained eyes down at Keiko. "No...Keiko..." he stuttered, kneeling by her side. He strung his arms about her frail form, her eyes stunned wide from that impact into her stomach. A tiny sliver of red leaked from her lip.
"Oh my God..." Yusuke's heart weighed down. He tucked her head under his chin, rocking her slightly. "Keiko...Keiko, c'mon! Wake up!"
"You...jerk..." Keiko forced a chaffed stutter. Yusuke's chocolate eyes filled to the brim in glossed tears as a soft chuckle pulsed him.
"I know, I suck!" he laughed, gripping her close. Keiko threaded her arms tightly about his neck, hugging firmly.
"You're a jerk!" she half-cried, half-giggled into his shoulder.
"But I'm your jerk..." he laughed into her hair.
"Yes, you're my jerk!" Keiko ripped from his shoulder, digging her lips deeply into his, half-mumbling, "...my jerk..."
Hiei grunted at the display. "Humans...I'll never understand..."
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
a/n: wow! long chapter...well, I g2g...hopefully this'll suffice for the next few days...latr.
Kurama: One Step...I make an Imprint...Two steps is commitment...Three steps, I'm not done yet, draw my other leg up...and the pace is set...
Hiei: *impressed* nice voice, Kistune...
Anemone: yeah! Who knew Kurama could sing?!
Kurama: ...Gotta tell you what I feel...although your tank is running low...over the split-life for real...pat the hood you're good to go...
Anemone: while he does that...here you go, chapter 16.
Kurama: ...hear you now! you're cut from the cords of the wicked...
Hiei and Anemone: *cheering him on, first time he ever sang* woo! yeah!
Chapter 16: Spirit Gun
Yusuke snarled hard...a firm pain stung his back from the impact with the rock floor. "That's it! You're dead!" the Detective growled at the laughing aperition floating above. It was a male this time, a young teenager from the looks of it. A short, bushy poison-green mane sprouted from his scalp, gathered in the back in a short ponytail, thick, spiked tufts of bangs hanging loose. His eyes were sharp and narrow, a vicious shade of silver that stung against the shadow veiling his face. His build resembled Yusuke's, same height and same muscle span. Straight across his chest was a deep gash in Japanese calligraphy reading "Intimidation".
Kurama and Hiei examined the foe with sincerity. "He's strong," Kurama showed no facial emotion. Hiei grunted.
Yukina, lying on top of Kuwabara's chest, cast her eyes upward. "Oh no, Kazuma...what if Yusuke gets hurt?"
"Calm down, Yukina..." Kuwabara strung his arms protectively about her back. "Urimeshi'll be fine..."
"Are...are you sure, Kazuma?" she locked her crimson eyes into his blue ones.
"I'm certain," Kurama piped, without a motion towards either of them, but staring intently at the demon floating in the air. "That Yusuke will be alright, Yukina."
"Hn..." Hiei grunted, linking himself to Kurama in a telepathic conversation. 'Too much bloodshed will make her traumatized, Kitsune...'
'I know, Hiei.'
'Then why don't you go in there and stop this before it starts?' Hiei cast in eyes upward curiously to the fox as his thoughts entered Kurama's head.
Kurama smirked with a vocally silent response. 'Why not you?'
'You're practically a doctor, Kistune...you should know my injuries are too fresh for another fight just yet...'
'It's a good thing we're speaking telepathically,' Kurama chuckled softly. 'You'd never admit that outwardly...'
'Answer me Kistune,' Hiei grunted. 'Why don't you go in there? This demon has very interesting powers...it could tear the Detective apart.'
'Because, Hiei,' Kurama's soft eyes faceted hard and cold. 'I'm to fight my father. And besides..." Kurama smirked calmly. "...denying Yusuke the honor of rescuing his own girlfriend...that'd be somewhat cruel, would it not?'
"Hn..." Hiei grunted vocally, severing their telepathic tie. The Koorime cast sharp scarlet eyes for the foe laughing maniacally down at Yusuke. "Whatever, Kistune..."
Kuwabara blinked in confusion at the fox and dragon. That was wierd what they just did. First, they just stood there, Hiei looked at Kurama, Kurama smirked then laughed, then Hiei grunted, then Kurama looked all serious for a minute, then he smirked again, and then Hiei grunted and said whatever Kistune, all the while neither of them talking. "The hell-?" Kuwabara blinked awkwardly. "What was that little display about?!"
Yukina nodded in agreement, still caught on top of Kuwabara's chest. "Um, yes what was that you just did?"
Kurama and Hiei smirked to themselves. "Later..." Hiei grunted, gazing upwardly at Yusuke's foe.
"Indeed," Kurama nodded, following the dragon's example.
"Hmpf..." Kuwabara glared daggers at the demon's backs, gripping Yukina tightly. "Those guys are ALWAYS doing that to me..."
Yusuke braced his arms firmly beneath his quivering form. Pain struck his upper back, a vicious zap of pain that her forced away with a sharp snarl. The teenager leveled himself balanced on sprawled legs, glaring chocolate daggers for the floating demon above. "You're gonna pay for that!"
"I think not..." the demon smirked as a sly, velvet voice cooed from his chuckling form.
"Bastard!"
"Refrain from swears before the delicate ladies," the green-haired foe smirked, motioning towards Keiko and Yukina, Keiko pinning against the farthest wall of her cage from the demon, and Yukina tightening her hug in Kuwabara's protective arms. "Besides, 'Bastard' is not my name...I AM, however, called Kruntag."
"Kruntag, Dirtbag..." Yusuke smirked. "Not much of a difference to me."
"Illiterate, are we?"
"The most!" Yusuke cracked his knees in a low bend, pushing off against the ground into a high leap for Kruntag. The green-haired aperition's silver eyes blinked slow, jerking wide with a change in them. They were even fiercer, and more deadly. A violent flash shot from his eyes, and Yusuke froze mid-jump. The Detective struggled hard in midair, but was unable to move.
Kruntag smirked deep, tilting his head for the right a brief instant. Yusuke's arms pinned hard against his sides, his elbows bruising into his hip. Yusuke snarled a half-wince at the impact. Suddenly, his legs knuckled tightly together, bruising and chaffing at the tightness. Yusuke's face singed red from strain as he struggled to force himself loose.
"That won't help him...Kruntag's power over body limbs is too strong." Kurama thought aloud.
"What do you mean?" Kuwabara inquired faintly.
"He needs an immense amount of Spirit Energy to break loose...not just all his physical strength. Of course, doing so he'd waste his Spirit Gun...Kruntag is quite the formidable opponet."
"What?! You mean even if he CAN break loose he won't be able to shoot a Spirit Gun?!"
"Isn't that what he just said?" Hiei glared over his shoulder. He yearned to rip into Kuwabara's limbs, tear him apart for STILL cradling Yukina against his chest...but he couldn't because Kurama was right there.
"Indeed," Kurama nodded calmly. "But, Yusuke has been getting stronger...so, he may be able to shoot a bullet...but..."
"But...?" Kuwabara bowed his head slightly, eyes cast up at the fox in hope.
"But...he may singe his arm right off with raw Spirit Energy."
"What?!" Kuwabara wailed. Yukina flashed worried eyes from fox to dragon, who seemed unmoved by this at the moment.
"Ugh!!" Yusuke struggled hard in the tight bind. "Asshole!"
"Tisk, I already asked you to refrain from swears, Detective," Kruntag smirked menacing eyes, tightening the bind about the wriggling Yusuke.
"C'mon, Yusuke, you idiot!!" Keiko leapt to the center of her cage, cheering her boyfriend on. "Break free!!"
"I'm TRYING, Keiko!!" Yusuke snarled. Kruntag growled as a deep smirk graced his face.
"Couple's Counciling, anyone?" he chuckled.
"Shut up!" Yusuke and Keiko grunted in angry unison.
Kruntag's smirk deepened sharp. Suddenly, with a cat's grace, the green-haired demon snaked through a hole of Keiko's cage. The girl quivered in fear, a trembling wail echoing throughout the entire cavern. Kruntag smirked slyly at the helpless human, approaching her slowly with evil staining his handsome features.
"Get away!" Keiko shrieked.
"I think not..." Kruntag smirked.
"Keiko!" Yusuke hollored through strained breaths. "Get the HELL AWAY from her!!"
Keiko sprawled her hand wide, an angry expression swarming her little face. Her palm swat through the air, aimed for a raw slap across Kruntag's face. The green-haired villian jerked his eyes wide for a brief second, Keiko's entire form falling limp against her will and collapsing to the bottom of the cage. He smirked down at her deviously, his silver eyes glowing through the shadow shading his face. Keiko screamed hard, unable to move her now flabby body.
Kurama and Hiei stared in shock. Kuwabara and Yukina quivered slightly in fear. "No!" Kurama breathed coarsely. The fox pounded off into the depths of the cavern, leaping upward into the air for the cage. Yusuke cast confused eyes at the red-head, who clasped a hand at Yusuke's arm, both floating in midair. Without hesitation, the fox sprawled his palm wide, a strain quivering it violently. Suddenly, a beam of hunter's green shot from his fingertips, molding to a glowing ball in his open hand.
"I'm lending you some Spirit Energy," Kurama husked his calm voice. "Don't waste your own to break free...use this..." with that, the fox forced the ball hard against Yusuke's chest. The Detective snarled firmly, the glowing ball seeping slowly under his flesh. Kurama quickly kicked off against Yusuke's back, shooting for the cage. The fox gripped hard to the lacing bars, an angry, ruthless glaze about his calm, emerald eyes. With stunning acrobatics, Kurama forced the cage in a swinging motion back and forth. Kruntag cast angry eyes for the humanoid red-head, flashing them wide for a second. A numb feeling struck over the fox, for a brief moment. With a shoot of Spirit Energy, Kurama forced through the bind, continuing the swing. Kruntag was too shocked to set himself firmly in the cage, and he tipped over, landing on top of the immobilized Keiko.
"Damn!" Kurama half-winced, half-stared. "Keiko!"
Beads of red shot from her mouth, her eyes quivering wide. Kruntag had elbowed her deeply in the stomach. "Keiko!!" Yusuke wailed, a deep growl echoing in his throat. Kurama ripped into the iron bars of the cage, leaping inside gracefully. The fox yanked Kruntag from Keiko's stomach, thrusting him through the open slot of the cage. Kruntag, however, was no longer helpless.
"HA!" Kruntag halted in midair, forcing an immense amount of his power upon binding Kurama. The fox snarled a sharp wince as his arms hugged about him tightly, bruising himself from the tight grip Kruntag forced. Kurama's knees buckled tight, the fox unable to force them apart. Kurama's eyes flashed angrily in a poison emerald.
'Why won't this thing work?!' Kurama locked his gaze upon the ruby strung about his neck. It still glowed faintly scarlet, but Kurama was still lacking his truest power. 'This isn't the most dire of situations?! Damn...!'
Kruntag smirked under the immense pressure of holding the fox tight. "You're harder to hold than the Detective..." he chuckled deviously through strained breaths. "That must mean you can control your Spirit Energy better than him..." Kruntag pulled his arms back, dragging the struggling fox from the cage. Keiko, a tiny sliver of blood seeping out from the corner of her lip, stuttered after him. "No...Kurama..."
Kurama snarled hard, growling with the sincerity of a lone wolf. His face, that brief expression before he was thrust mercilessly against the jagged stone walls of the cavern, the look of thirst for death, was stronger to his wolf heritage than to his fox...it was the first time Kurama had ever stared with a wolf's murder eyes. The look was missed by Kruntag's slowness...but Hiei had caught it. He was surprised, to say the least.
'My, Kistune...' Hiei blinked wide, shocked eyes. 'You ARE half-wolf...that face...I've only seen it once...' Hiei bowed his chin downward, his crimson eyes watching the scene just as intently. 'The last time I saw your father...rage is new to you, I can tell...keep it under wraps until we must face your father, though...that is all I can say.'
Kruntag laughed insanely at Kurama as the fox rammed into the stone wall. "Although it takes much of my energy, I CAN control you!!"
Kurama's body lay sprawled and limp on the floor. The fox had hit the wall too hard, and he had sacrificed too much energy to Yusuke. As the dust cleared to reveal Kurama lying in a puddle of his own blood, eneryone, let Kruntag, pricked in horror.
"Kitsune!" Hiei blurred into the air towards the fox, jerking to a strained halt before the fallen humaniod. 'his human body is too sensitive to impacts like that without his normal amount of Spirit Energy,' Hiei examined the unconscious Kurama silently. 'although he is one of the strongest demons to date, he gave too much Spirit Energy to the Detective, and didn't keep enough for himself...' Hiei crouched by the fox's side, coiling an arm around his stomach to support Kurama against his shoulder. Blood seeped thickly from an open gash at Kurama's chest. Hiei cast his crimson eyes upward to Yusuke. 'Detective...he gave his needed Spirit Energy to you...you better not waste it.'
Yusuke stared in shock at the fox. "Kurama..." he stuttered slowly. Suddenly, his eyes hardened firm. "I WON'T WASTE YOUR ENERGY!" he wailed, a low scream escaping his form as he focused on his bound limbs. Pain stung him blind, but the enraged teenager forced through it. Suddenly, he jerked backwards, his arms and legs flaying loose as he collapsed to the ground. "Yes!!" he smirked, flipping to the rugged stone floor. The Detective glared copper daggers to the poison-haired aperition above. "Die..." Yusuke set his gunning arm firm, aiming angrily for Kruntag. "Spirit..." his tone was low and threatening, whiteness gathering slowly at the tip of his finger. "GUN!!"
A gigantic wave of whiteness shot viciously from his arm, engufling the dim cavern in a stunning white glare. As his last move, Kruntag quickly cast an enchantment on Yusuke's gunning arm, before severing into the engulfing blast of Spirit Energy.
Yusuke smirked faintly at his work, until a rithling pain pulsed maddeningly forcefully through his gunning arm. Yusuke snarled sharp winces, collapsing under the massive pain. After several tense moments, his arm fell limp, and Yusuke was unable to shoot, aim, or even lift his arm.
"Urimeshi!!" Kuwabara kicked off against the wall, setting Yukina to the ground lightly and rushing for his rival. "Urimeshi...you okay?"
"Just peachy..." Yusuke forced a pained smirk, steadying himself firm. "Kurama..." he tried to turn in the direction the fox had collapsed, but he in turn fell. Kuwabara caught him gently, keeping him set straight. Hiei approached the group slowly, an unconscious Kurama leaned on his shoulder.
"The Kitsune isn't well..." Hiei scoffed quietly. "He gave up too much energy for the Detective...that impact with the wall was too much for him..."
"What are you saying?" Yusuke eyed Hiei suspiciously.
"Kurama had the energy level of a two-year-old human boy," Hiei cast his eyes low. "the wall was too sharp and hard...his remaining energy is slipping fast."
Yukina pricked in a start. "But...he can't...you don't mean he could..."
"He gave me that much energy?!" Yusuke snarled. "No...no, why did he do that?!"
Crimson beaded at Kurama's chin, slipping over the peak and dripping off to the floor. Red soaked deep into the fibers of his blue button-down, and the wrinkles of the rolled sleeves stained in scarlet. The fox didn't move, and was hardly breathing against Hiei's shoulder. Yukina about burst.
"I know my healing powers aren't that good, but I must try!" the mint-haired beauty pinched her face in determination. She rolled the sleeves of her teal kimono above her elbows, motioning for Hiei to plant the fox to the ground. Hiei hesitantly lay his friend to the floor, noting just how much blood shed from him. Scars at his neck, chest, stomach, and shoulder all seeped in thick masses of blood. Hiei cast his crimson eyes for the wall, a small gasp sharpening his breaths. Blood smeared every-which-way, tainting that whole side of the cavern red.
"You are a fool, Kurama..." Hiei breathed hard. "You needed that energy for your father...how could you part with it..."
Suddenly, Yusuke pricked. "Keiko!!" he wailed, pushing Kuwabara's hold on him away. "Oh God Keiko!" the Detective pounced for the ripped cage, dangling by it's rounded hole's edge with his left arm, his gunning arm still limp. Yusuke kicked himself in the swinging cage, casting pained eyes down at Keiko. "No...Keiko..." he stuttered, kneeling by her side. He strung his arms about her frail form, her eyes stunned wide from that impact into her stomach. A tiny sliver of red leaked from her lip.
"Oh my God..." Yusuke's heart weighed down. He tucked her head under his chin, rocking her slightly. "Keiko...Keiko, c'mon! Wake up!"
"You...jerk..." Keiko forced a chaffed stutter. Yusuke's chocolate eyes filled to the brim in glossed tears as a soft chuckle pulsed him.
"I know, I suck!" he laughed, gripping her close. Keiko threaded her arms tightly about his neck, hugging firmly.
"You're a jerk!" she half-cried, half-giggled into his shoulder.
"But I'm your jerk..." he laughed into her hair.
"Yes, you're my jerk!" Keiko ripped from his shoulder, digging her lips deeply into his, half-mumbling, "...my jerk..."
Hiei grunted at the display. "Humans...I'll never understand..."
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a/n: wow! long chapter...well, I g2g...hopefully this'll suffice for the next few days...latr.