Anemone: yo! Okay, where we left off, lol, Hiei had demanded food of me and he was cut off from his "traumatizing" memory of the day...well, we're back from the cornerstore, and with Hiei fed, he's gonna explain how he managed to get away from Kurama's fangirl mob.
*~flashback~*
Hiei: *still being dragged, now in the street...people are fearfully avoiding the intimidating mob and ignoring his screams* DAMMIT!! Stupid Kurama...he, will, PAY...
Random old woman: that poor young man! I do hope someone rescues him...
Hiei: *gives up, lets his cheek and flopped arms drag on the ground* ...this city sucks...no one helps someone in need...they're all gonna burn in hell, along with these BITCHES!
Red-headed fan girl: *kicks him in the face* HOW DARE YOU!
Hiei: BITE ME!
Brunette fan girl: *steps on his back* SHUT UP!
Hiei: *really pissy mumbles, folds arms, is still being dragged on his stomach through the street* ...my GOD this feels like that time Mones and I had to go back into her school after hours to get her notebook, and the janitor locked us in the closet because he mistook us for thieves and lost the key so he couldn't let us out and it was her 'time of the month'...God that was the scariest three hours of my LIFE...
Blonde fan girl: who's Mones?! *gasp* IS SHE YOUR GIRLFRIEND?!
*entire mob freezes and looks at Hiei...Hiei blinks awkwardly*
Hiei: *side glances away* uh...*evil smirk, does what Mr. Krabs did on that episode of Spongebob he thought he killed the health inspector* y-eeeeeeeeeah...
~*cut off*~
Anemone: you said WHAT?! I'm not your girlfriend!!
Kurama: *moan* Hiei, you idiot...
Hiei: *glare* Be quiet!
~*back to flashback*~
Mob: *starts crying* WAAAAAAAAA!! NOT ONLY IS SUICHI TAKEN-
Hiei: -gah!! *a lot of noise, covers ears* SHUT UP!...
Mob: -BUT SO'S HIS CUTE, LESS-CUTE-THAN-HIM BEST FRIEND!!
Hiei: SHUT U-what the hell do you MEAN "LESS-CUTE-THAN-HIM"?!
Black-haired fan girl: *whispers to a strawberry blonde fan girl* he's a little egotistical...not NEARLY as polite and humble as Suichi!
Hiei: ...you're actually comparing me to that traitor?! UGH! I am gonna KILL HIM!!...
Bluette fan girl (no, not Botan): *carrying his Katana* hmm...this thingy is wierd...
Hiei: *pricks in an evil idea, smirks, turns towards the bluette, STILL being dragged on his stomach* wanna see how to use it?
Bluette fan girl: huh?
Hiei: it's really really really really really really cool...
Bluette fan girl: *shifty eyes, really tempted* uh...well...
Hiei: c'mon...only an expert like myself knows how to use it properly...wanna see?
Bluette fan girl: uh...uh...
Hiei: *teeth gritting as he attempts to continue looking nice* do, it....
Bluette fan girl: well...okay...*hands him the Katana, with the speed of light his slices through the bindings around his ankles and runs away*
Hiei: YES!! Thank God they had an idiot guarding my weapon! *evil laughter* Now to find Kurama...and KILL HIM...
*low echoing of running grows behind him, the fan girl mob is hot on his heels*
Hiei: What the-?! Oh crap!
*blurs in his dash, but the women seem to have demonic speed...for this, unfortunetly for Hiei, and especially because he doesn't know this, is Kurama's DEMON fan girl mob...well, actually, some are low level demons and some are human...yes, Kurama's good looks are murderously popular everywhere! Of course these demons aren't the most educated and think he really is a human named Suichi*
Hiei: SHIT!! *runs faster*
*skids at a corner, runs desperately into the turn...a manhole from below is open...an arm reaches out, clasps his ankle, and drags him in*
Hiei: AHH! *collapses into the hole just as the fangirl mob runs by...Hiei's dangling by his ankle from his rescuer's hand in the sewer* Who the hell are you?!
~*cut off flashback*~
Anemone: well, *snicker* this intro is WAY too long...good thing the chapter's gonna be long...I hope...sorry if it ain't...Hiei can finish his story after...*Hiei glares and mumbles about this being the third time his story was ignored*...Fox!
Kurama: chapter 30, enjoy.
Chapter 30: The Awaited Battle
"Ah!" Botan breathed a faint gasp. "Kurama..." she laced her delicate ivory hand over her heart. "He...he's hurting! No! I can feel his agony...he's dying!"
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
"AHHHH!!" Kurama screamed a deafening scream of sheer, chaffing pain, his emerald Spirit Energy engulfing him entirely. His eyes still gaped and glowed with an eerie green light at the whites, choking the brilliance of his irises.
"What the hell do you MEAN you don't know what's going to happen to him?!" Yusuke growled viciously at the calm Jiaanti.
"Detective," she scolded. "Take solace! He is still part demonic...his Spirit Energy will keep him alive-"
"-but you don't know that for sure!" Kuwabara snarled. Keiko and Yukina could only watch on in horror as Kurama wavered between consciousness...and the state of life just before death.
"Kurama..." Hiei watched on with difficulty as the Kitsune trembled despite himself. "...you have to survive this...you still must fight Grapko...remember why you are here..."
Kurama was lost within himself...his dagger sharp ears where deaf to Hiei's soft, encouraging words. His thoughts were numb against his emotions...he was so engulfed in calm pain, he couldn't focus on the importance on his survival. He was in so much horrifyingly murderous agony, he even forgot of Hiei...Yusuke, Kuwabara...Yukina, Keiko...Jiaanti...Shiori...Botan. All his thoughts and memories escaped him, he was forced to focus so hard on himself, on the pain...he subconsciously was deciding to give in, to ignore reality and to fall into the calmness that death ensured.
"No!" Hiei quickly realized Kurama's hidden motives, and blurred to the fox's trembling left side. The dragon braced his arms against Kurama's, dragging them both to their knees...Kurama was only a fourth aware of Hiei's presence. "Kitsune!" Hiei roared. "Kitsune! Kurama, Kurama! Listen to me! Listen!"
Kurama was lost in the pain, not even able to conjure up another shout of agony it was that numbing against his lungs and throat.
"Suichi Minamino!" Hiei screamed in desperation for Kurama to comprehend...he was so far within himself, Hiei's shouting words were muffled breaths to the Fox's knowledge.
"You must remember! You must remember why you're here!" the dragon growled, shaking the unaware humanoid Kitsune in frustration and burning his flaming energy into his clutch at Kurama's upper arms. "You can't give in to that arrow! You're tougher than it is! Come ON, Fox!!"
"Kurama!" Yukina rushed to Hiei's side, laying a gentle hand to the dragon's shoulder as she carressed the pained red-head with an icy touch, as to tempt him back to reality...Hiei pricked at her presence beside him. "Kurama, please wake up!" she whimpered as she stroked his sweating, heated brow with a cool palm.
"Kurama! Remember Botan?" Keiko crouched by the Fox's side, combing a tuft of ruby hair behind his ear. "Please! You have a purpose! Don't die! Please don't die!"
"C'mon, Kurama!" Hiei snarled loudly, trying in desperation to reach Kurama within himself.
"Please! You must wake up!" Yukina forced a little more iciness to her fragile touch.
"Don't die! Please don't die!" Keiko whimpered as she brushed his disheveled mane from his brow.
"Fox Boy, you're not gonna let some stupid arrow kill you, are you?!" Yusuke growled, now crouched beside Keiko and clasping a firm hand of support to his friend's shoulder.
"Kurama, you're more of a man than any of us! Now act like one!" Kuwabara kneeled at opposite side of Hiei, clenching to Kurama's barren shoulder and gripping his little energy into the fox's muscle.
Kurama was trapped inside himself, nestled within the pain...his veins and arteries snapped and cracked, and only his slipping energy kept him from drowning in blood. But, something happened. His numb face...he felt a twinge of a cool sensation to one cheek...it was soothing at first...but then, it began to inflate in coldness, stunning a shock of briskness to one side of his chin. 'w...what...?' he managed to formulate one, single, tangible thought through the intense pain. 'w...what's happen...happening...?'
"Kurama!" an echoed tone rang the Fox's senses. 'Hiei?'
"Please wake up!" a soft whimper of an echoing coo caused his inner self to blink in surprise. 'Yukina...?'
"Wake UP, dammit!" 'Yusuke,' Kurama snickered in his mind. 'What is happening?' suddenly, the iciness plaguing his chin stung even colder, nearly numbing him. 'Gah! Why is my chin so cold?!' and that's when other sensations began to overtake him. He felt a gripping clutch tighten at his right shoulder...a looser grip at his right was stinging in calming energy...his upper arms singed with flaming grips...and his right temple was being stroked by a delicate touch, his hair being wiped aside.
"You have to remember!" he heard Hiei growl. "You cannot die! You must save Botan!"
"Wha..." he managed to gurgle vocally. His eyes, stunned wide and flushed with Spirit Energy just a moment prior, blinked in sagging exhaust, the whites dimming of the shockingly bright glow and returning to normality. "B...Botan...where, where is Botan?!" he jerked to a steady sit, the entire group staring at him in shock. Suddenly, the silence broke, and Kuwabara, Yukina, Yusuke, and Keiko all dove at him in a forceful hug, Hiei slipping out just in time before being pinned to the floor. Kurama, however, wasn't as lucky...the stunned fox was jerked downwards under the weight of his friends. "What the-?!" he managed to stutter as the half-crying, half-joyful group meshed him into the stone floor. Hiei snickered at the display.
"You had us worried for a moment, Kitsune," the dragon smirked down at the confused Kurama hidden under the array of their companions. Kurama merely cast wide eyes of bafflement at the standing dragon, wondering why he wasn't on his feet, but rather beneath his friends.
'His veins are healed...' Hiei realized as he studied Kurama's form with his Jagon. 'His Spirit Energy managed to close the open gashes in his blood stream...amazing.'
"See? He's fine...and you were worried," Kuwabara scoffed when he tore apart from the heap of Urimeshi team members.
"Shut up, Kuwabaka..." Yusuke growled when he too had unraveled from his grip to Kurama's neck.
"YOU shut up, ya IDIOT..." the rival punk snarled in response.
"Kazuma, calm down..." Yukina gently sat up from her hug about Kurama.
"You too, Yusuke!" Keiko grunted when her arms slipped from the Fox's stomach. And there Kurama lay in confusion...he had been pinned to the ground, hugged until his lungs were shiveled from lack of air, and left with his back against the smooth stone floor while his friends seethed in an argument above him.
"Okay..." he breathed in confusion. 'What an awkward experience...the first thing they do is pin me to the ground and then slip away yelling at each other...'
"I take it his fusion with the arrow is complete?" Hiei threw his narrow ruby glare for the calm, tired Jiaanti...pure worry had plagued her throughout Kurama's ordeal.
"Yes, he is now perfectly fine...the only difference from before in his tougher skin," she smiled.
"Good," Hiei grunted. "This little ordeal had better be worth it, She-Fox."
"Whatever happened to the proper title?" she smirked. Hiei in turn side-glanced her with a soft grunt.
"Now I know where Kitsune gets his witty sarcasm."
"Indeed," she countered softly, slowly twisting on her heels for the darkness beyond.
"Mother?" Kurama breathed faintly from behind as he kicked up to an Indian style sit.
"You needn't my presence any longer, Kurama," she smiled over her slender, pale shoulder. "I'd best be getting along into hiding...continue onward into the unknown caverns, my son, and you shall find Grapko." With that, she combed her slick hand through her bushy mane, and, with a flick of her slender tail, she stepped onward into the caverns abandoned by the Urimeshi team prior.
"Thank you...Mother."
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
"Oh, dammit!" Botan growled as her rusted shackles broke the delicate ivory flesh at her slim wrists. "Kurama..." her tiny voice breathed faintly. "I miss you so much...please don't do anything stupid just to save me!"
"Coming here in general was stupid of him," the wolf snarled through his stunningly white fangs as he peered down at his captive with lusty golden stares. "He must really love you, Irritating One."
"Call me by my name!" she grunted in defense.
"As far as I'm concerned, your name is Irritating One..." he smirked. "...but, I must say...after a while of your annoying babbling, you can be somewhat tolerable..."
"I'm not going to accept that compliment from my ENEMY!" Botan countered, and paused briefly in thought. "Wait...I don't babble annoyingly! What the hell kind of compliment is that?!"
"Don't make me hit you again..." the wolf's violent golden eyes narrowed lower in frustration. "Shut up or be knocked yet again into unconsciousness..."
"HURUMPH!!" she huffed, threading her slender arms in a tight fold. "How dare you!"
Grapko wrinkled his nose in annoyance. "I'm leaving...be aware the battle will be in this cavern once he arrives...you may be in crossfire if you're not a good little hostage..." Botan could only steal a slightly sharp gasp of air at his convincing threat. 'Kurama...' she softly engulfed her thoughts back on her beloved humanoid Kitsune.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
"Careful there, Red..." Yusuke smiled as he assisted Kurama to a wavering stand. The fox's head swam in dizziness and exhaust, the new height of his stand causing him a sensation of wooziness. "Just lean on my shoulder til you can take it on your own feet, Kurama."
"Thank you, Yusuke," Kurama flashed a tired Suichi smile. "But I am...I'm..." he collapsed to the ground in his attempt to stand firm on his own, landing on his upper back and flashing a tired wince. "...not ready yet..."
Kuwabara snickered as he hoisted the fox up, Kurama's arm coiled behind the punk's neck. "Don't try just yet...Yukina sweety, wanna heal Kurama?"
"There's nothing for her TO heal, ningen," Hiei grunted. "Kurama's perfectly fine...he's simply tired and lacking slightly in Spirit Energy...AGAIN...give him a moment or two and he'll be suitable on his own terms."
"Right," Kurama smiled. "I'm fine, just a little dizzy."
"Well then let's go...Kurama, can you walk with some support?" Keiko inquired softly.
"I'm sure I can," he again grinned his signature smile. "Let us continue on, then...no point in lingering for my own pains...we've still another battle to deal with."
"Rightio!" a voice that belonged to none of the current group piped from behind.
"Hinegeshi?!" Hiei was lost of his cocky composure as he whirled around to face his scarlet-haired vixen. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Koenma made me come back," she shrugged. "I flew all the way back to his office, and he ordered me to accompany you all...by the time I got back, you guys apparently had already fought about three-hundred demons."
The entire group side-glanced for Kurama, who chuckled awkwardly. "I didn't kill ALL of them..."
"You might as well have," Yusuke smirked.
"You're in danger here, Hinegeshi!" Hiei growled.
"I know! But so are all of you!"
"Well, technically yes, but still!"
"It wasn't my place to argue against Koenma! That's what Ogre's there for..." Hinegeshi huffed primly, Hiei's head bowing in tired defeat.
"But Hinegeshi...!" he half-snarled in annoyance.
"C'mon, Flames! The more the merrier!" Yusuke chuckled...Hiei instantly curled his clenching grip into the Detective's collar, glaring with threateningly ruby stares.
"Don't even scoff, human! If anything, it should only be Kurama, you, and myself in these caves...the rest of are current group shouldn't be here!"
"HEY!" Kuwabara roared. "Why didn't you include me?! I'm just as useful and important to the team as you three!"
"Keep believing that, ningen..." Hiei smirked. "Dreams are an essential crutch for the weak."
"SHORTY...!" the punk growled. "You are SO dead!"
"Actually Kuwa, I agree with Hiei..." Yusuke smiled.
"URIMESHI, YOU SUCK!!"
"BOYS!" Hinegeshi, Keiko, and Yukina barked in unison, the three instantly jerking to face his girl.
"Er...yes...?" they cowered slightly...Hiei at Hinegeshi, Yusuke at Keiko, and Kuwabara at Yukina.
"Please, everyone...calm down..." Kurama breathed sternly. "We've more important matters to attend to...Hinegeshi," he slowly cast his gentle gaze to the short ferry girl. "You must be careful, understand? We cannot risk anyone's safety, you must promise to be aware of the murderous danger lurking throughout the entirety of Mount Shiverku."
"I do! I'll be careful!" she nodded friskily.
"Very well...then you may join us," he pressed his glare shut for a moment, unraveling his lean against Kuwabara and standing firm for himself. His eyes then flashed open, a stunning shade of emerald that caused gasps of shock at his murderously narrow glare. "Let's go."
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
"He's coming..." the wolf smirked. "Beautiful..."
"Kurama!" Botan breathed faintly in her utter worry.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
The entire group journeyed onward in silence...Kurama fronted the group...next, was Yusuke, with Keiko at his side...behind them Kuwabara stalked along with the delicate Yukina beside him...and at the rear walked Hiei and Hinegeshi.
"Hiei..." she breathed softly, a soft crimson staining the slope of her nose.
"Hn...?" he grunted, his throat wavering in the deepest depths. 'What's she going to say...?' he dreaded her coming words, having grown to expect the worst with every situation.
"You're hurt." she seemed somewhat worried at his condition. He pricked slightly...the awkwardness of this entire situation was unbearable for both dragon and deity.
"Not very badly..." he swallowed a chaffing lump in the back of his throat. 'damn human emotions! What is wrong with me?!'
"Erm, okay then." she cut the topic smoothly, giving in to silence. Hiei too, refused to speak unless she ventured into conversation first. 'so much to tell her...dammit! Stupid English limitations...there aren't enough words!'
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Grapko licked his teeth and growled a smirk, his charcoal ear flicking against the top of his head. "In mere moments, my Irritating Hostage, your beloved will be upon us!"
"Kurama..." she whimpered in fear. "No...stay back!" tears threatened to streak her ivory face. "He'll kill you..."
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Kurama's nostrils flared as a scent loomed his lungs...his eyes bulged wide in realization, and he bolted. The group was hesitant, but then too sprinted after him.
"What is it, Kurama?" Yusuke panted in his dash with Keiko's hand intwined with his own as to prevent her from trailing behind.
"I smell Botan! In the next cavern!" he breathed faintly, his speed beyond the norm.
Suddenly, the fox skid to a halt just at the cavern's mouth. Darkness engulfed it's entirety...let a single light that slithered through from the outside of the mountain...and painted across the delicate figure of...Botan.
The moment froze as raspberry locked into emerald. Kurama's breaths were hard, Botan's breaths were harder. He slowly allowed his gaze to wander about her fragile form...just the way he had left her from earlier that day...midnight navy jeans that wore to her figure perfectly, a loose powder blue sweatshirt, and her signature bouncy ponytail...what angered him were her bleeding wrists.
She too examined him in that silenced instant...he looked like he had risked so much. His khakis were thrashed in the shins and soaked in scarlet. His teal shirt was torn and snagged, sponged in redness. His temple was scuffed and sweat glossed over his brow. But the relief of seeing him alive was beyond what she could have asked for.
"Botan..." he whispered a coo.
"Kurama..." she cooed a whisper.
"Botan!" he shouted vivaciously, sprinting off into the dimness of the cavern.
"Kurama!" she cried in desperation as he approached her with unbelievable speed.
"Kitsune look out!" Hiei called into the darkness while skidding to a halt from his jog...the others, too, just reached the open cavern. Before Kurama could obey Hiei's warning, a frame of knuckles linked into his right rib-cage and sent him flying in a forced jerk to the left...into a jagged wall. Clouds of dust and splinters of stone sputtered in all direction from his cracking impact to the rock...through his tight, quivering wince, his brilliantly emerald glare managed to catch a glimpse of the one who cause it all...the source of all of his and Botan's pain...the man worth no more than murder...Grapko, father of Kurama.
"Well boy...aren't you going to fight me?" he smirked.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Anemone: okay Hiei REALLY want's to finish his story...
~*picks up where it left off*~
(Hiei got pulled into an open manhole)
Rescuer: *in the shadows, slowly comes into the light*
Hiei: AHH! ANOTHER NINGEN FEMALE!! *note: he still doesn't realize the mob was part demonic*
Rescuer: HI HIEI! I'm Anneliese!! I'm your BIGGEST fan!
Hiei: huh?! Aw dammit...! Dealing with Kurama's fan girls was tiring enough, to say the least...but my OWN?
Anneliese: a 'thank you' would be appreciated.
Hiei: why...?
Anneliese: because I just saved you from that nasty mob!
Hiei: hn...
Anneliese: mua-ha-ha! You are now in debt to me because I just saved your life!
Hiei: *still dangling by his ankle, looks up at her* Uh, no.
Anneliese: teehee yes you are!
Hiei: the hell makes you say that?!
Anneliese: I know for a fact you hate being in debt to someone, you always pay your owes!
Hiei: DAMMIT...how did you know that?!
Anneliese: I watch the T.V. show Yu Yu Hakusho!
Hiei: *long pause* what does some T.V. show have to do with me...?
Anneliese: you're one of the main characters!
Hiei: what the hell are you talking about?!
Anneliese: it's an anime show that is very popular and that I watch DAILY!
Hiei: ani-me...? What the hell are you babbling on about you ningen stalker?!
~*end flashback*~
Kurama and Anemone: LOL!
Hiei: shut up! Anneliese expects me to fulfill my debt...*shiver*
Kurama: what did she ask of you?
Hiei: she...she's...
Kurama: allow me to at least know why you're so mad at me, please...
Anemone: *snicker*
Hiei:...every time I'm not here, she wants me to be her pet!
Kurama and Anemone: *reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally long pause, side glance each other in silent shock, look back at the angry Hiei*...LOLLOLLOL!!
Hiei: *growl* SILENCE! This is all your fault, Kurama!
Anemone: lollol...okay, another chapter completed...and hopefully Hiei's whole situation won't be as bad as he thinks...Flames! Line!
Hiei: *still pretty pissed* go review or TASTE MY KATANA!
Kurama: er, my fault he's so mad! Don't worry readers, you'll be fine...
Anemone: latr, fans!
*~flashback~*
Hiei: *still being dragged, now in the street...people are fearfully avoiding the intimidating mob and ignoring his screams* DAMMIT!! Stupid Kurama...he, will, PAY...
Random old woman: that poor young man! I do hope someone rescues him...
Hiei: *gives up, lets his cheek and flopped arms drag on the ground* ...this city sucks...no one helps someone in need...they're all gonna burn in hell, along with these BITCHES!
Red-headed fan girl: *kicks him in the face* HOW DARE YOU!
Hiei: BITE ME!
Brunette fan girl: *steps on his back* SHUT UP!
Hiei: *really pissy mumbles, folds arms, is still being dragged on his stomach through the street* ...my GOD this feels like that time Mones and I had to go back into her school after hours to get her notebook, and the janitor locked us in the closet because he mistook us for thieves and lost the key so he couldn't let us out and it was her 'time of the month'...God that was the scariest three hours of my LIFE...
Blonde fan girl: who's Mones?! *gasp* IS SHE YOUR GIRLFRIEND?!
*entire mob freezes and looks at Hiei...Hiei blinks awkwardly*
Hiei: *side glances away* uh...*evil smirk, does what Mr. Krabs did on that episode of Spongebob he thought he killed the health inspector* y-eeeeeeeeeah...
~*cut off*~
Anemone: you said WHAT?! I'm not your girlfriend!!
Kurama: *moan* Hiei, you idiot...
Hiei: *glare* Be quiet!
~*back to flashback*~
Mob: *starts crying* WAAAAAAAAA!! NOT ONLY IS SUICHI TAKEN-
Hiei: -gah!! *a lot of noise, covers ears* SHUT UP!...
Mob: -BUT SO'S HIS CUTE, LESS-CUTE-THAN-HIM BEST FRIEND!!
Hiei: SHUT U-what the hell do you MEAN "LESS-CUTE-THAN-HIM"?!
Black-haired fan girl: *whispers to a strawberry blonde fan girl* he's a little egotistical...not NEARLY as polite and humble as Suichi!
Hiei: ...you're actually comparing me to that traitor?! UGH! I am gonna KILL HIM!!...
Bluette fan girl (no, not Botan): *carrying his Katana* hmm...this thingy is wierd...
Hiei: *pricks in an evil idea, smirks, turns towards the bluette, STILL being dragged on his stomach* wanna see how to use it?
Bluette fan girl: huh?
Hiei: it's really really really really really really cool...
Bluette fan girl: *shifty eyes, really tempted* uh...well...
Hiei: c'mon...only an expert like myself knows how to use it properly...wanna see?
Bluette fan girl: uh...uh...
Hiei: *teeth gritting as he attempts to continue looking nice* do, it....
Bluette fan girl: well...okay...*hands him the Katana, with the speed of light his slices through the bindings around his ankles and runs away*
Hiei: YES!! Thank God they had an idiot guarding my weapon! *evil laughter* Now to find Kurama...and KILL HIM...
*low echoing of running grows behind him, the fan girl mob is hot on his heels*
Hiei: What the-?! Oh crap!
*blurs in his dash, but the women seem to have demonic speed...for this, unfortunetly for Hiei, and especially because he doesn't know this, is Kurama's DEMON fan girl mob...well, actually, some are low level demons and some are human...yes, Kurama's good looks are murderously popular everywhere! Of course these demons aren't the most educated and think he really is a human named Suichi*
Hiei: SHIT!! *runs faster*
*skids at a corner, runs desperately into the turn...a manhole from below is open...an arm reaches out, clasps his ankle, and drags him in*
Hiei: AHH! *collapses into the hole just as the fangirl mob runs by...Hiei's dangling by his ankle from his rescuer's hand in the sewer* Who the hell are you?!
~*cut off flashback*~
Anemone: well, *snicker* this intro is WAY too long...good thing the chapter's gonna be long...I hope...sorry if it ain't...Hiei can finish his story after...*Hiei glares and mumbles about this being the third time his story was ignored*...Fox!
Kurama: chapter 30, enjoy.
Chapter 30: The Awaited Battle
"Ah!" Botan breathed a faint gasp. "Kurama..." she laced her delicate ivory hand over her heart. "He...he's hurting! No! I can feel his agony...he's dying!"
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
"AHHHH!!" Kurama screamed a deafening scream of sheer, chaffing pain, his emerald Spirit Energy engulfing him entirely. His eyes still gaped and glowed with an eerie green light at the whites, choking the brilliance of his irises.
"What the hell do you MEAN you don't know what's going to happen to him?!" Yusuke growled viciously at the calm Jiaanti.
"Detective," she scolded. "Take solace! He is still part demonic...his Spirit Energy will keep him alive-"
"-but you don't know that for sure!" Kuwabara snarled. Keiko and Yukina could only watch on in horror as Kurama wavered between consciousness...and the state of life just before death.
"Kurama..." Hiei watched on with difficulty as the Kitsune trembled despite himself. "...you have to survive this...you still must fight Grapko...remember why you are here..."
Kurama was lost within himself...his dagger sharp ears where deaf to Hiei's soft, encouraging words. His thoughts were numb against his emotions...he was so engulfed in calm pain, he couldn't focus on the importance on his survival. He was in so much horrifyingly murderous agony, he even forgot of Hiei...Yusuke, Kuwabara...Yukina, Keiko...Jiaanti...Shiori...Botan. All his thoughts and memories escaped him, he was forced to focus so hard on himself, on the pain...he subconsciously was deciding to give in, to ignore reality and to fall into the calmness that death ensured.
"No!" Hiei quickly realized Kurama's hidden motives, and blurred to the fox's trembling left side. The dragon braced his arms against Kurama's, dragging them both to their knees...Kurama was only a fourth aware of Hiei's presence. "Kitsune!" Hiei roared. "Kitsune! Kurama, Kurama! Listen to me! Listen!"
Kurama was lost in the pain, not even able to conjure up another shout of agony it was that numbing against his lungs and throat.
"Suichi Minamino!" Hiei screamed in desperation for Kurama to comprehend...he was so far within himself, Hiei's shouting words were muffled breaths to the Fox's knowledge.
"You must remember! You must remember why you're here!" the dragon growled, shaking the unaware humanoid Kitsune in frustration and burning his flaming energy into his clutch at Kurama's upper arms. "You can't give in to that arrow! You're tougher than it is! Come ON, Fox!!"
"Kurama!" Yukina rushed to Hiei's side, laying a gentle hand to the dragon's shoulder as she carressed the pained red-head with an icy touch, as to tempt him back to reality...Hiei pricked at her presence beside him. "Kurama, please wake up!" she whimpered as she stroked his sweating, heated brow with a cool palm.
"Kurama! Remember Botan?" Keiko crouched by the Fox's side, combing a tuft of ruby hair behind his ear. "Please! You have a purpose! Don't die! Please don't die!"
"C'mon, Kurama!" Hiei snarled loudly, trying in desperation to reach Kurama within himself.
"Please! You must wake up!" Yukina forced a little more iciness to her fragile touch.
"Don't die! Please don't die!" Keiko whimpered as she brushed his disheveled mane from his brow.
"Fox Boy, you're not gonna let some stupid arrow kill you, are you?!" Yusuke growled, now crouched beside Keiko and clasping a firm hand of support to his friend's shoulder.
"Kurama, you're more of a man than any of us! Now act like one!" Kuwabara kneeled at opposite side of Hiei, clenching to Kurama's barren shoulder and gripping his little energy into the fox's muscle.
Kurama was trapped inside himself, nestled within the pain...his veins and arteries snapped and cracked, and only his slipping energy kept him from drowning in blood. But, something happened. His numb face...he felt a twinge of a cool sensation to one cheek...it was soothing at first...but then, it began to inflate in coldness, stunning a shock of briskness to one side of his chin. 'w...what...?' he managed to formulate one, single, tangible thought through the intense pain. 'w...what's happen...happening...?'
"Kurama!" an echoed tone rang the Fox's senses. 'Hiei?'
"Please wake up!" a soft whimper of an echoing coo caused his inner self to blink in surprise. 'Yukina...?'
"Wake UP, dammit!" 'Yusuke,' Kurama snickered in his mind. 'What is happening?' suddenly, the iciness plaguing his chin stung even colder, nearly numbing him. 'Gah! Why is my chin so cold?!' and that's when other sensations began to overtake him. He felt a gripping clutch tighten at his right shoulder...a looser grip at his right was stinging in calming energy...his upper arms singed with flaming grips...and his right temple was being stroked by a delicate touch, his hair being wiped aside.
"You have to remember!" he heard Hiei growl. "You cannot die! You must save Botan!"
"Wha..." he managed to gurgle vocally. His eyes, stunned wide and flushed with Spirit Energy just a moment prior, blinked in sagging exhaust, the whites dimming of the shockingly bright glow and returning to normality. "B...Botan...where, where is Botan?!" he jerked to a steady sit, the entire group staring at him in shock. Suddenly, the silence broke, and Kuwabara, Yukina, Yusuke, and Keiko all dove at him in a forceful hug, Hiei slipping out just in time before being pinned to the floor. Kurama, however, wasn't as lucky...the stunned fox was jerked downwards under the weight of his friends. "What the-?!" he managed to stutter as the half-crying, half-joyful group meshed him into the stone floor. Hiei snickered at the display.
"You had us worried for a moment, Kitsune," the dragon smirked down at the confused Kurama hidden under the array of their companions. Kurama merely cast wide eyes of bafflement at the standing dragon, wondering why he wasn't on his feet, but rather beneath his friends.
'His veins are healed...' Hiei realized as he studied Kurama's form with his Jagon. 'His Spirit Energy managed to close the open gashes in his blood stream...amazing.'
"See? He's fine...and you were worried," Kuwabara scoffed when he tore apart from the heap of Urimeshi team members.
"Shut up, Kuwabaka..." Yusuke growled when he too had unraveled from his grip to Kurama's neck.
"YOU shut up, ya IDIOT..." the rival punk snarled in response.
"Kazuma, calm down..." Yukina gently sat up from her hug about Kurama.
"You too, Yusuke!" Keiko grunted when her arms slipped from the Fox's stomach. And there Kurama lay in confusion...he had been pinned to the ground, hugged until his lungs were shiveled from lack of air, and left with his back against the smooth stone floor while his friends seethed in an argument above him.
"Okay..." he breathed in confusion. 'What an awkward experience...the first thing they do is pin me to the ground and then slip away yelling at each other...'
"I take it his fusion with the arrow is complete?" Hiei threw his narrow ruby glare for the calm, tired Jiaanti...pure worry had plagued her throughout Kurama's ordeal.
"Yes, he is now perfectly fine...the only difference from before in his tougher skin," she smiled.
"Good," Hiei grunted. "This little ordeal had better be worth it, She-Fox."
"Whatever happened to the proper title?" she smirked. Hiei in turn side-glanced her with a soft grunt.
"Now I know where Kitsune gets his witty sarcasm."
"Indeed," she countered softly, slowly twisting on her heels for the darkness beyond.
"Mother?" Kurama breathed faintly from behind as he kicked up to an Indian style sit.
"You needn't my presence any longer, Kurama," she smiled over her slender, pale shoulder. "I'd best be getting along into hiding...continue onward into the unknown caverns, my son, and you shall find Grapko." With that, she combed her slick hand through her bushy mane, and, with a flick of her slender tail, she stepped onward into the caverns abandoned by the Urimeshi team prior.
"Thank you...Mother."
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
"Oh, dammit!" Botan growled as her rusted shackles broke the delicate ivory flesh at her slim wrists. "Kurama..." her tiny voice breathed faintly. "I miss you so much...please don't do anything stupid just to save me!"
"Coming here in general was stupid of him," the wolf snarled through his stunningly white fangs as he peered down at his captive with lusty golden stares. "He must really love you, Irritating One."
"Call me by my name!" she grunted in defense.
"As far as I'm concerned, your name is Irritating One..." he smirked. "...but, I must say...after a while of your annoying babbling, you can be somewhat tolerable..."
"I'm not going to accept that compliment from my ENEMY!" Botan countered, and paused briefly in thought. "Wait...I don't babble annoyingly! What the hell kind of compliment is that?!"
"Don't make me hit you again..." the wolf's violent golden eyes narrowed lower in frustration. "Shut up or be knocked yet again into unconsciousness..."
"HURUMPH!!" she huffed, threading her slender arms in a tight fold. "How dare you!"
Grapko wrinkled his nose in annoyance. "I'm leaving...be aware the battle will be in this cavern once he arrives...you may be in crossfire if you're not a good little hostage..." Botan could only steal a slightly sharp gasp of air at his convincing threat. 'Kurama...' she softly engulfed her thoughts back on her beloved humanoid Kitsune.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
"Careful there, Red..." Yusuke smiled as he assisted Kurama to a wavering stand. The fox's head swam in dizziness and exhaust, the new height of his stand causing him a sensation of wooziness. "Just lean on my shoulder til you can take it on your own feet, Kurama."
"Thank you, Yusuke," Kurama flashed a tired Suichi smile. "But I am...I'm..." he collapsed to the ground in his attempt to stand firm on his own, landing on his upper back and flashing a tired wince. "...not ready yet..."
Kuwabara snickered as he hoisted the fox up, Kurama's arm coiled behind the punk's neck. "Don't try just yet...Yukina sweety, wanna heal Kurama?"
"There's nothing for her TO heal, ningen," Hiei grunted. "Kurama's perfectly fine...he's simply tired and lacking slightly in Spirit Energy...AGAIN...give him a moment or two and he'll be suitable on his own terms."
"Right," Kurama smiled. "I'm fine, just a little dizzy."
"Well then let's go...Kurama, can you walk with some support?" Keiko inquired softly.
"I'm sure I can," he again grinned his signature smile. "Let us continue on, then...no point in lingering for my own pains...we've still another battle to deal with."
"Rightio!" a voice that belonged to none of the current group piped from behind.
"Hinegeshi?!" Hiei was lost of his cocky composure as he whirled around to face his scarlet-haired vixen. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Koenma made me come back," she shrugged. "I flew all the way back to his office, and he ordered me to accompany you all...by the time I got back, you guys apparently had already fought about three-hundred demons."
The entire group side-glanced for Kurama, who chuckled awkwardly. "I didn't kill ALL of them..."
"You might as well have," Yusuke smirked.
"You're in danger here, Hinegeshi!" Hiei growled.
"I know! But so are all of you!"
"Well, technically yes, but still!"
"It wasn't my place to argue against Koenma! That's what Ogre's there for..." Hinegeshi huffed primly, Hiei's head bowing in tired defeat.
"But Hinegeshi...!" he half-snarled in annoyance.
"C'mon, Flames! The more the merrier!" Yusuke chuckled...Hiei instantly curled his clenching grip into the Detective's collar, glaring with threateningly ruby stares.
"Don't even scoff, human! If anything, it should only be Kurama, you, and myself in these caves...the rest of are current group shouldn't be here!"
"HEY!" Kuwabara roared. "Why didn't you include me?! I'm just as useful and important to the team as you three!"
"Keep believing that, ningen..." Hiei smirked. "Dreams are an essential crutch for the weak."
"SHORTY...!" the punk growled. "You are SO dead!"
"Actually Kuwa, I agree with Hiei..." Yusuke smiled.
"URIMESHI, YOU SUCK!!"
"BOYS!" Hinegeshi, Keiko, and Yukina barked in unison, the three instantly jerking to face his girl.
"Er...yes...?" they cowered slightly...Hiei at Hinegeshi, Yusuke at Keiko, and Kuwabara at Yukina.
"Please, everyone...calm down..." Kurama breathed sternly. "We've more important matters to attend to...Hinegeshi," he slowly cast his gentle gaze to the short ferry girl. "You must be careful, understand? We cannot risk anyone's safety, you must promise to be aware of the murderous danger lurking throughout the entirety of Mount Shiverku."
"I do! I'll be careful!" she nodded friskily.
"Very well...then you may join us," he pressed his glare shut for a moment, unraveling his lean against Kuwabara and standing firm for himself. His eyes then flashed open, a stunning shade of emerald that caused gasps of shock at his murderously narrow glare. "Let's go."
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
"He's coming..." the wolf smirked. "Beautiful..."
"Kurama!" Botan breathed faintly in her utter worry.
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
The entire group journeyed onward in silence...Kurama fronted the group...next, was Yusuke, with Keiko at his side...behind them Kuwabara stalked along with the delicate Yukina beside him...and at the rear walked Hiei and Hinegeshi.
"Hiei..." she breathed softly, a soft crimson staining the slope of her nose.
"Hn...?" he grunted, his throat wavering in the deepest depths. 'What's she going to say...?' he dreaded her coming words, having grown to expect the worst with every situation.
"You're hurt." she seemed somewhat worried at his condition. He pricked slightly...the awkwardness of this entire situation was unbearable for both dragon and deity.
"Not very badly..." he swallowed a chaffing lump in the back of his throat. 'damn human emotions! What is wrong with me?!'
"Erm, okay then." she cut the topic smoothly, giving in to silence. Hiei too, refused to speak unless she ventured into conversation first. 'so much to tell her...dammit! Stupid English limitations...there aren't enough words!'
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Grapko licked his teeth and growled a smirk, his charcoal ear flicking against the top of his head. "In mere moments, my Irritating Hostage, your beloved will be upon us!"
"Kurama..." she whimpered in fear. "No...stay back!" tears threatened to streak her ivory face. "He'll kill you..."
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Kurama's nostrils flared as a scent loomed his lungs...his eyes bulged wide in realization, and he bolted. The group was hesitant, but then too sprinted after him.
"What is it, Kurama?" Yusuke panted in his dash with Keiko's hand intwined with his own as to prevent her from trailing behind.
"I smell Botan! In the next cavern!" he breathed faintly, his speed beyond the norm.
Suddenly, the fox skid to a halt just at the cavern's mouth. Darkness engulfed it's entirety...let a single light that slithered through from the outside of the mountain...and painted across the delicate figure of...Botan.
The moment froze as raspberry locked into emerald. Kurama's breaths were hard, Botan's breaths were harder. He slowly allowed his gaze to wander about her fragile form...just the way he had left her from earlier that day...midnight navy jeans that wore to her figure perfectly, a loose powder blue sweatshirt, and her signature bouncy ponytail...what angered him were her bleeding wrists.
She too examined him in that silenced instant...he looked like he had risked so much. His khakis were thrashed in the shins and soaked in scarlet. His teal shirt was torn and snagged, sponged in redness. His temple was scuffed and sweat glossed over his brow. But the relief of seeing him alive was beyond what she could have asked for.
"Botan..." he whispered a coo.
"Kurama..." she cooed a whisper.
"Botan!" he shouted vivaciously, sprinting off into the dimness of the cavern.
"Kurama!" she cried in desperation as he approached her with unbelievable speed.
"Kitsune look out!" Hiei called into the darkness while skidding to a halt from his jog...the others, too, just reached the open cavern. Before Kurama could obey Hiei's warning, a frame of knuckles linked into his right rib-cage and sent him flying in a forced jerk to the left...into a jagged wall. Clouds of dust and splinters of stone sputtered in all direction from his cracking impact to the rock...through his tight, quivering wince, his brilliantly emerald glare managed to catch a glimpse of the one who cause it all...the source of all of his and Botan's pain...the man worth no more than murder...Grapko, father of Kurama.
"Well boy...aren't you going to fight me?" he smirked.
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Anemone: okay Hiei REALLY want's to finish his story...
~*picks up where it left off*~
(Hiei got pulled into an open manhole)
Rescuer: *in the shadows, slowly comes into the light*
Hiei: AHH! ANOTHER NINGEN FEMALE!! *note: he still doesn't realize the mob was part demonic*
Rescuer: HI HIEI! I'm Anneliese!! I'm your BIGGEST fan!
Hiei: huh?! Aw dammit...! Dealing with Kurama's fan girls was tiring enough, to say the least...but my OWN?
Anneliese: a 'thank you' would be appreciated.
Hiei: why...?
Anneliese: because I just saved you from that nasty mob!
Hiei: hn...
Anneliese: mua-ha-ha! You are now in debt to me because I just saved your life!
Hiei: *still dangling by his ankle, looks up at her* Uh, no.
Anneliese: teehee yes you are!
Hiei: the hell makes you say that?!
Anneliese: I know for a fact you hate being in debt to someone, you always pay your owes!
Hiei: DAMMIT...how did you know that?!
Anneliese: I watch the T.V. show Yu Yu Hakusho!
Hiei: *long pause* what does some T.V. show have to do with me...?
Anneliese: you're one of the main characters!
Hiei: what the hell are you talking about?!
Anneliese: it's an anime show that is very popular and that I watch DAILY!
Hiei: ani-me...? What the hell are you babbling on about you ningen stalker?!
~*end flashback*~
Kurama and Anemone: LOL!
Hiei: shut up! Anneliese expects me to fulfill my debt...*shiver*
Kurama: what did she ask of you?
Hiei: she...she's...
Kurama: allow me to at least know why you're so mad at me, please...
Anemone: *snicker*
Hiei:...every time I'm not here, she wants me to be her pet!
Kurama and Anemone: *reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally long pause, side glance each other in silent shock, look back at the angry Hiei*...LOLLOLLOL!!
Hiei: *growl* SILENCE! This is all your fault, Kurama!
Anemone: lollol...okay, another chapter completed...and hopefully Hiei's whole situation won't be as bad as he thinks...Flames! Line!
Hiei: *still pretty pissed* go review or TASTE MY KATANA!
Kurama: er, my fault he's so mad! Don't worry readers, you'll be fine...
Anemone: latr, fans!