Anemone: oops...
Kurama: what is it, Anemone?
Anemone: well, erm...I got this one review asking me 'didn't you say Kurama was the only pup to Jiaanti and her mate?' heh, well, I looked back into chapter 12, with Hinegeshi givin' all that info, and you were right, reviewer...lol I kinda forgot I had said that...lol sry...lol but hey, at least I know you're paying attention!
Kurama: indeed...it's not that big of a mistake, though, Mones...you can still fix it.
Anemone: how so? *Kurama whispers in her ear...Anemone beams* oo! I could do that...thanks, Fox.
Kurama: it was nothing.
Hiei: hn...may we get to the story, now?!
Anemone: sheesh, ok ok...Fox?
Kurama: chapter 22, enjoy.
Chapter 22: A Battle Between Brothers
"Wait a second..." Yusuke scratched his chin lightly as thought engulfed him.
"Hn?" Hiei side-glanced for the Detective.
"Didn't Hinegeshi say that Kurama was Jiaanti and the wolf's only pup?" Yusuke inquired faintly.
"Of course her records would say that," Hiei grunted softly. "And I'm surprised you of all people would remember that somewhat useless piece of information..."
Yusuke ignored that last little scoff jumping straight into a worthy question. "Then where'd this brother come from?!"
"Allow me to explain so you may comprehend, Detective. Wolf demons keep to themselves...they hardly ever allow anyone to know of their existance...they hate the spotlight. Ryooki obviously hid himself well, if the Scribes of Demon Legends didn't even know he was alive. However, I suppose Kurama's father wasn't the slyest in hiding, if he was found out to be of the wolf breed and recorded...but, I suppose he was good enough at remaining inconspicuous for no one to be able to obtain his name, dammit..."
"Then, why is Kurama so famous if wolves hate attention? Wouldn't he have TRIED to lay low, since he's a half-wolf?" Kuwabara inquired awkwardly, trying with difficulty to add two and two together.
"You see, the differences in Fox and Wolf demons are evident," Hiei breathed calmly. "Foxes bask in attention...which is why Hinegeshi's records new the Kitsune's mother's name...because she is a fox. Wolves, as I said, hate fame...Ryooki obviously took on the wolf-like characteristics and allowed no one outside the Kyorgin Caves to know of him...and our friend the Kitsune is more like his mother...needing of attention. Well, that is, he WAS needing of attention, before he became human. Hn...I almost pity him for having such clashing parents."
"Yeah...that's kind of difficult to go by..." Yusuke combed his sprawled fingers into his slicked mane. "I hardly get it..." he muttered faintly to himself.
"Ryooki...how is mother?" Kurama smiled softly at his older brother.
"Why do you ask, Yoko?" Ryooki returned the warm expression of greeting.
"Well, I haven't seen her in over fifteen human years...I wish to know if she is doing alright...I don't remember her very well," the Kitsune chuckled faintly, tapping a gnarled fist lightly against his head. "Living as a human has deprived me of many memories before my birth as Suichi Minamino."
"I see," Ryooki pulsed in a faint chuckle. "Well little brother, mother isn't quite well," his smile dimmed instantly into a grave expression, as did Kurama's. "Father abuses her...even more so than before you were reincarnated."
"What?!" Kurama gaped. "And you let him? I may not remember much, Ryooki, but if I do happen to remember correctly you never allowed father to abuse her at all! Did you not always attempt to fight him off if such madness overwhelmed him?"
"I know...I did, and half the time I'd win...but if I could now, Yoko, I would have still stopped him," Ryooki's face fell with grief and regret.
"Why can you not?" Kurama inquired faintly.
"Because, Yoko," Ryooki's expression faded of it's welcoming gleam as he slowly sprawled his open palm wide, combing deep into his mane. Slowly, as scarlet locks were brushed aside, Kurama could make out the sight of a metallic, spider-shaped pin stabbed into a throbbing bruise on his scalp.
"Ryooki!" Kurama exclaimed, immediately knowing what the object was. It was a chemically magic pin only developed among demons...it pulsed a liquid straight to the brain that forced it's wearer to endure whatever the creator of that particular pin pressured to them. Ryooki, Kurama knew, was an innocent, kind-hearted soul who defended his mother with his life against his abusive father. Ryooki was now their father's puppet, to watch with sorrowful eyes and a weighed heart as he had to stand at the sidelines when Jiaanti was abused. Not only that, but he had free will in his personal opinion, knowing what he did was wrong, but his limbs continued the demands issued by the wolf, despite how he felt. Ryooki was broken under an evil device.
"Father controls me with it." Ryooki's head bowed solemnly. "I would have slain him the instant he touched mother, had he not managed to have Syaaka and Kruntag hold me down and fasten it to my head...I've tried removing it, but it stabs at my brain with deadly pulses at each touch, and burns my weaponry if I try to scratch it off. Father forces me into battle and he forces me watch mother beaten down..." tears began to swell and sting at his stark green eyes. "She can't defend herself! And the others don't help her...Yoko, you must defeat me and stop him...he is a mad-man!"
"But...Ryooki..."
"Brother...I may fight you hard, and I may attempt your death," a slow, soft smile curved to his saddened face. "but I swear, Kurama...had I not been forced under his control, neither you nor Hiei would have had anything to fear at this point."
Hiei pricked at the sound of his name. 'This demon knows of my history with the wolf?'
"Shall we begin?" Ryooki asked faintly, coiling his fingers tightly about his first arrow.
"I suppose," Kurama responded by retracting his trademark rose from his bushy mane.
"I'm sorry, Kurama. I don't want to fight my little brother," Ryooki's eyes traced the floor in a grieved bow. "Please know that."
"I do, Ryooki. And I too am sorry."
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"Hmm..." Botan examined her shackles closely. The ferry girl was caught in a huff...a cuff of rusted copper snaked her neck as a collar...it was degrading and she would not stand for it!
"Stupid wolf..." she sneered negatively. Suddenly, she burst in over-exaggerated moans. "Why won't anyone come and save me?!"
"Hmpf...ignorant girl," the wolf snorted from his veil of shadows, Botan immediately jerking into a deathly silence as fear swarmed within her.
"W-what do you mean?" she snuffed loudly and rudely, supressing her obvious fear. "How dare you! I am hardly ignor-"
"Shut up!" the wolf breathed a sharp snarl between the very slight gaps of his clenched pearl fangs. Botan sweatdropped, half-wincing faintly to herself, shrinking back against the wall with stunned raspberry eyes locked on him. The slope of her nose singed red as she strained to hide back her fear, framing it under a layer of a stubborn look of annoyance to the irritated wolf. Seeing her reaction, and with the fact that the wolf was actually in a somewhat good mood, having not abused a woman all day, he heaved in a weighed sigh, and lowered the volume of his venomous tone. "I mean, your rescuer is on his way...so stop bitching that no one is trying."
"W...who? Who is on his way?" she stuttered in disbelief.
"Kurama."
"Kurama?!" the bluette was stunned...Kurama?!
"Yes, you irritating little plight...indeed that boy has bad taste in women...just shut up before I kill you, giving that humanoid kitsune no purpose in my lair..." the wolf sauntered off into the darkness again, leaving behind a shocked Botan. Her candy eyes followed after his retreating form, shock clouding her senses. Kurama...of all people she would suspect to come to her rescue...Kurama was the last person she thought would do so.
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"HYA!" Kurama bellowed lowly as his rose cracked from it's tiny, delicate form, instantly shooting to three-yards length. A lash of his whip, and the spiked vine coiled tightly about Ryooki's first arrow, which was on it's way to the red-head's heart. He slashed his whip yet again, the force cracking the arrow in two and trusting it viciously for the side. Kurama was still lacking somewhat in Spirit Energy, having surrendered at the time all of it to Yusuke...but it was gradually returning...in the meantime, the fox would focus more upon his humanoid agility and speed.
"Kurama seems to know what he is doing, Detective," Hiei smirked slightly. 'Despite his horrid wounds at his chest,' the flame demon thought faintly. 'wounds that could prove lethal without proper care, Kitsune continues to perservere...indeed, I do hope that irritating ferry girl is worth Kurama putting his health on hold.'
Suddenly, as Kurama had leapt in the air for another attack of his deadly whip, from the darkness of the cavern, Kurama's sharp eyes just barely missed the sight of another arrow. "I'm sorry, Yoko!" Ryooki called as the weapon pierced the air for the Kitsune's heart. Kurama whipped around in midair, a glare of frustration and surprise swarmed into one distorted expression. The arrow's tip stung into his flesh, tearing viciously into the muscle of his chest. The skin was pierced through, a deep, tense hole forming on impact with the weapon...the fox's blood almost instantly stained into the fibers of the wooden arrow.
"Kurama!" Keiko and Yukina wailed in shocked unison, the demonness stuttering back tears as the Kitsune's blood swam like a long, silk sash into the air on impact with the arrow. Yusuke was in a torrent of anger at himself and caught in total awe at the situation. "No, Kurama! Don't!" Yusuke coughed a chaffed voice drowned in shock. "DYING IS STUPID!"
Kuwabara gaped at the horrific sight of the wounded fox. "Oh my God..." he could only manage a stutter at the view of Kurama's falling form, an arrow dug viciously into his flesh. The punk was unable to say any more...he wanted to reassure everyone that Kurama would be okay, because he always was...Kurama was probably the strongest and most feared of the group...Kuwabara wasn't sure though if even Kurama could survive an attack straight to the heart...he may be a demon spirit, but he WAS afterall, only in a human body...and human bodies are fragile. Kuwabara could only watch on, his voice having abandoned him to his doubts and hopes.
Hiei locked sharp crimson eyes on the scene, the glare of the little Koorime being that of terror. Hiei was fully aware the Kurama had the best chance to the wolf...that Kurama would have been the only one to survive if anyone was to come back alive...but if Kurama died now...not only would the remainder of the Urimeshi team be hopeless...but Hiei's best friend would be dead. "Kitsune!"
Kurama's expression lacked all emotion besides pure shock...he seemed to express no pain whatsoever, let the slight "pah" noise that slipped from his gaped lips the instant of contact with the weapon. Ryooki had actually caught him off guard. His brilliant eyes flashed wide in stunned awe...'Ryooki has gotten stronger...I may actually pose no threat to the wolf if Ryooki is able to defeat me...I must win...I must beat my brother...I must save Botan.'
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Anemone: another chapter completed.
Kurama: it would seem you made a friendly relationship between myself and my brother...ineteresting angle, Mones.
Anemone: yeah...I kinda figured it'd be boring if ALL the evil demons were willingly on the dad's side...and I thought a friendly coversation would kind of be something you'd do.
Kurama: heh, okay...*turns away to rethink that...mutter, deep though* would I do something like that with an enemy...?
Hiei: this is shaping up to be a half-decent battle, Mones...
Anemone: thank you...? *mumble* only half-decent?!...
Hiei: yeah...so do I get to fight again?
Anemone: huh? Oh...uh...I, I really don't know...*Hiei half-glares* I guess I could give you another battle if you want...
Kurama: continuing to prolong the plot? *slight snicker* Mones, I thought right after Ryooki was my father.
Anemone: well...I ain't gonna spoil it...everyone will find out what's after Ryooki as soon as the battle is dealt with. Including you two...I know one of you might let it slip out and ruin it for everyone...
Kurama: you lack much faith in me...that hurts, Mones...
Anemone: oh calm down, it shouldn't be much longer...say your line, Flames.
Hiei: *sigh* do I have to?!
Anemone: yes! Fox has to say the whole "chapter ....enjoy" thing every chapter...now I'm giving you a line to say from now on.
Hiei: I decline.
Anemone: oh come on! Fox always has to tell the readers to review...the least you could do is take a line so it's more constant and so Fox doesn't have to do everything...
Hiei: ugh...FINE...*heavy sigh, monotonous, annoyed tone* 'anywho, please review'...*more to himself* God I HATE the word 'anywho'...I don't think it's even a real friggen word...
Anemone: yes...what he said BEFORE his little pity-party...latr!
Kurama: what is it, Anemone?
Anemone: well, erm...I got this one review asking me 'didn't you say Kurama was the only pup to Jiaanti and her mate?' heh, well, I looked back into chapter 12, with Hinegeshi givin' all that info, and you were right, reviewer...lol I kinda forgot I had said that...lol sry...lol but hey, at least I know you're paying attention!
Kurama: indeed...it's not that big of a mistake, though, Mones...you can still fix it.
Anemone: how so? *Kurama whispers in her ear...Anemone beams* oo! I could do that...thanks, Fox.
Kurama: it was nothing.
Hiei: hn...may we get to the story, now?!
Anemone: sheesh, ok ok...Fox?
Kurama: chapter 22, enjoy.
Chapter 22: A Battle Between Brothers
"Wait a second..." Yusuke scratched his chin lightly as thought engulfed him.
"Hn?" Hiei side-glanced for the Detective.
"Didn't Hinegeshi say that Kurama was Jiaanti and the wolf's only pup?" Yusuke inquired faintly.
"Of course her records would say that," Hiei grunted softly. "And I'm surprised you of all people would remember that somewhat useless piece of information..."
Yusuke ignored that last little scoff jumping straight into a worthy question. "Then where'd this brother come from?!"
"Allow me to explain so you may comprehend, Detective. Wolf demons keep to themselves...they hardly ever allow anyone to know of their existance...they hate the spotlight. Ryooki obviously hid himself well, if the Scribes of Demon Legends didn't even know he was alive. However, I suppose Kurama's father wasn't the slyest in hiding, if he was found out to be of the wolf breed and recorded...but, I suppose he was good enough at remaining inconspicuous for no one to be able to obtain his name, dammit..."
"Then, why is Kurama so famous if wolves hate attention? Wouldn't he have TRIED to lay low, since he's a half-wolf?" Kuwabara inquired awkwardly, trying with difficulty to add two and two together.
"You see, the differences in Fox and Wolf demons are evident," Hiei breathed calmly. "Foxes bask in attention...which is why Hinegeshi's records new the Kitsune's mother's name...because she is a fox. Wolves, as I said, hate fame...Ryooki obviously took on the wolf-like characteristics and allowed no one outside the Kyorgin Caves to know of him...and our friend the Kitsune is more like his mother...needing of attention. Well, that is, he WAS needing of attention, before he became human. Hn...I almost pity him for having such clashing parents."
"Yeah...that's kind of difficult to go by..." Yusuke combed his sprawled fingers into his slicked mane. "I hardly get it..." he muttered faintly to himself.
"Ryooki...how is mother?" Kurama smiled softly at his older brother.
"Why do you ask, Yoko?" Ryooki returned the warm expression of greeting.
"Well, I haven't seen her in over fifteen human years...I wish to know if she is doing alright...I don't remember her very well," the Kitsune chuckled faintly, tapping a gnarled fist lightly against his head. "Living as a human has deprived me of many memories before my birth as Suichi Minamino."
"I see," Ryooki pulsed in a faint chuckle. "Well little brother, mother isn't quite well," his smile dimmed instantly into a grave expression, as did Kurama's. "Father abuses her...even more so than before you were reincarnated."
"What?!" Kurama gaped. "And you let him? I may not remember much, Ryooki, but if I do happen to remember correctly you never allowed father to abuse her at all! Did you not always attempt to fight him off if such madness overwhelmed him?"
"I know...I did, and half the time I'd win...but if I could now, Yoko, I would have still stopped him," Ryooki's face fell with grief and regret.
"Why can you not?" Kurama inquired faintly.
"Because, Yoko," Ryooki's expression faded of it's welcoming gleam as he slowly sprawled his open palm wide, combing deep into his mane. Slowly, as scarlet locks were brushed aside, Kurama could make out the sight of a metallic, spider-shaped pin stabbed into a throbbing bruise on his scalp.
"Ryooki!" Kurama exclaimed, immediately knowing what the object was. It was a chemically magic pin only developed among demons...it pulsed a liquid straight to the brain that forced it's wearer to endure whatever the creator of that particular pin pressured to them. Ryooki, Kurama knew, was an innocent, kind-hearted soul who defended his mother with his life against his abusive father. Ryooki was now their father's puppet, to watch with sorrowful eyes and a weighed heart as he had to stand at the sidelines when Jiaanti was abused. Not only that, but he had free will in his personal opinion, knowing what he did was wrong, but his limbs continued the demands issued by the wolf, despite how he felt. Ryooki was broken under an evil device.
"Father controls me with it." Ryooki's head bowed solemnly. "I would have slain him the instant he touched mother, had he not managed to have Syaaka and Kruntag hold me down and fasten it to my head...I've tried removing it, but it stabs at my brain with deadly pulses at each touch, and burns my weaponry if I try to scratch it off. Father forces me into battle and he forces me watch mother beaten down..." tears began to swell and sting at his stark green eyes. "She can't defend herself! And the others don't help her...Yoko, you must defeat me and stop him...he is a mad-man!"
"But...Ryooki..."
"Brother...I may fight you hard, and I may attempt your death," a slow, soft smile curved to his saddened face. "but I swear, Kurama...had I not been forced under his control, neither you nor Hiei would have had anything to fear at this point."
Hiei pricked at the sound of his name. 'This demon knows of my history with the wolf?'
"Shall we begin?" Ryooki asked faintly, coiling his fingers tightly about his first arrow.
"I suppose," Kurama responded by retracting his trademark rose from his bushy mane.
"I'm sorry, Kurama. I don't want to fight my little brother," Ryooki's eyes traced the floor in a grieved bow. "Please know that."
"I do, Ryooki. And I too am sorry."
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"Hmm..." Botan examined her shackles closely. The ferry girl was caught in a huff...a cuff of rusted copper snaked her neck as a collar...it was degrading and she would not stand for it!
"Stupid wolf..." she sneered negatively. Suddenly, she burst in over-exaggerated moans. "Why won't anyone come and save me?!"
"Hmpf...ignorant girl," the wolf snorted from his veil of shadows, Botan immediately jerking into a deathly silence as fear swarmed within her.
"W-what do you mean?" she snuffed loudly and rudely, supressing her obvious fear. "How dare you! I am hardly ignor-"
"Shut up!" the wolf breathed a sharp snarl between the very slight gaps of his clenched pearl fangs. Botan sweatdropped, half-wincing faintly to herself, shrinking back against the wall with stunned raspberry eyes locked on him. The slope of her nose singed red as she strained to hide back her fear, framing it under a layer of a stubborn look of annoyance to the irritated wolf. Seeing her reaction, and with the fact that the wolf was actually in a somewhat good mood, having not abused a woman all day, he heaved in a weighed sigh, and lowered the volume of his venomous tone. "I mean, your rescuer is on his way...so stop bitching that no one is trying."
"W...who? Who is on his way?" she stuttered in disbelief.
"Kurama."
"Kurama?!" the bluette was stunned...Kurama?!
"Yes, you irritating little plight...indeed that boy has bad taste in women...just shut up before I kill you, giving that humanoid kitsune no purpose in my lair..." the wolf sauntered off into the darkness again, leaving behind a shocked Botan. Her candy eyes followed after his retreating form, shock clouding her senses. Kurama...of all people she would suspect to come to her rescue...Kurama was the last person she thought would do so.
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"HYA!" Kurama bellowed lowly as his rose cracked from it's tiny, delicate form, instantly shooting to three-yards length. A lash of his whip, and the spiked vine coiled tightly about Ryooki's first arrow, which was on it's way to the red-head's heart. He slashed his whip yet again, the force cracking the arrow in two and trusting it viciously for the side. Kurama was still lacking somewhat in Spirit Energy, having surrendered at the time all of it to Yusuke...but it was gradually returning...in the meantime, the fox would focus more upon his humanoid agility and speed.
"Kurama seems to know what he is doing, Detective," Hiei smirked slightly. 'Despite his horrid wounds at his chest,' the flame demon thought faintly. 'wounds that could prove lethal without proper care, Kitsune continues to perservere...indeed, I do hope that irritating ferry girl is worth Kurama putting his health on hold.'
Suddenly, as Kurama had leapt in the air for another attack of his deadly whip, from the darkness of the cavern, Kurama's sharp eyes just barely missed the sight of another arrow. "I'm sorry, Yoko!" Ryooki called as the weapon pierced the air for the Kitsune's heart. Kurama whipped around in midair, a glare of frustration and surprise swarmed into one distorted expression. The arrow's tip stung into his flesh, tearing viciously into the muscle of his chest. The skin was pierced through, a deep, tense hole forming on impact with the weapon...the fox's blood almost instantly stained into the fibers of the wooden arrow.
"Kurama!" Keiko and Yukina wailed in shocked unison, the demonness stuttering back tears as the Kitsune's blood swam like a long, silk sash into the air on impact with the arrow. Yusuke was in a torrent of anger at himself and caught in total awe at the situation. "No, Kurama! Don't!" Yusuke coughed a chaffed voice drowned in shock. "DYING IS STUPID!"
Kuwabara gaped at the horrific sight of the wounded fox. "Oh my God..." he could only manage a stutter at the view of Kurama's falling form, an arrow dug viciously into his flesh. The punk was unable to say any more...he wanted to reassure everyone that Kurama would be okay, because he always was...Kurama was probably the strongest and most feared of the group...Kuwabara wasn't sure though if even Kurama could survive an attack straight to the heart...he may be a demon spirit, but he WAS afterall, only in a human body...and human bodies are fragile. Kuwabara could only watch on, his voice having abandoned him to his doubts and hopes.
Hiei locked sharp crimson eyes on the scene, the glare of the little Koorime being that of terror. Hiei was fully aware the Kurama had the best chance to the wolf...that Kurama would have been the only one to survive if anyone was to come back alive...but if Kurama died now...not only would the remainder of the Urimeshi team be hopeless...but Hiei's best friend would be dead. "Kitsune!"
Kurama's expression lacked all emotion besides pure shock...he seemed to express no pain whatsoever, let the slight "pah" noise that slipped from his gaped lips the instant of contact with the weapon. Ryooki had actually caught him off guard. His brilliant eyes flashed wide in stunned awe...'Ryooki has gotten stronger...I may actually pose no threat to the wolf if Ryooki is able to defeat me...I must win...I must beat my brother...I must save Botan.'
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Anemone: another chapter completed.
Kurama: it would seem you made a friendly relationship between myself and my brother...ineteresting angle, Mones.
Anemone: yeah...I kinda figured it'd be boring if ALL the evil demons were willingly on the dad's side...and I thought a friendly coversation would kind of be something you'd do.
Kurama: heh, okay...*turns away to rethink that...mutter, deep though* would I do something like that with an enemy...?
Hiei: this is shaping up to be a half-decent battle, Mones...
Anemone: thank you...? *mumble* only half-decent?!...
Hiei: yeah...so do I get to fight again?
Anemone: huh? Oh...uh...I, I really don't know...*Hiei half-glares* I guess I could give you another battle if you want...
Kurama: continuing to prolong the plot? *slight snicker* Mones, I thought right after Ryooki was my father.
Anemone: well...I ain't gonna spoil it...everyone will find out what's after Ryooki as soon as the battle is dealt with. Including you two...I know one of you might let it slip out and ruin it for everyone...
Kurama: you lack much faith in me...that hurts, Mones...
Anemone: oh calm down, it shouldn't be much longer...say your line, Flames.
Hiei: *sigh* do I have to?!
Anemone: yes! Fox has to say the whole "chapter ....enjoy" thing every chapter...now I'm giving you a line to say from now on.
Hiei: I decline.
Anemone: oh come on! Fox always has to tell the readers to review...the least you could do is take a line so it's more constant and so Fox doesn't have to do everything...
Hiei: ugh...FINE...*heavy sigh, monotonous, annoyed tone* 'anywho, please review'...*more to himself* God I HATE the word 'anywho'...I don't think it's even a real friggen word...
Anemone: yes...what he said BEFORE his little pity-party...latr!