*Anemone's room...it's been a week since Hiei disappeared...Anemone and Kurama have been hanging out together, and decided to invite someone else over today...and the closest thing to Hiei is-*
Vegeta: Woman, where's the kitchen?
Anemone: hey!!
Kurama: refrian from such crude labeling, Vegeta...
Vegeta: *glare, growl*
Kurama: erm...or not.
Anemone: hmpf...it's downstairs, Cabbage.
Vegeta: why does every woman I know call me that?! My Woman *Bulma*, Kakorat's Woman *Chi-Chi*, Kakorat's Spawn's Woman *Videl*, Kakorat's Spawn's Spawn *Pan*...
Anemone: cuz you call us all 'woman'...if you call me Anemone, or even Mones, then I won't call you Cabbage, Cabbage.
Vegeta: *grumble* ningens...*leaves room in search for the kitchen*
Kurama: *whispering to Anemone* are you sure you can speak with Vegeta that way? I mean, yes, we are decent friends with him, but he is an elder...
Anemone: *whispering back* -and Hiei isn't? Flames is like as old as Yoko...and yet we talk to Hiei the same way...lacking in any and all respect!
Kurama: ...because Hiei is a more consistent visitor than Vegeta...we aren't as close to him as we are to Hiei.
Anemone: oh well...they're practically the same person anyway...short, spiky hair, strong, and bad-tempered...Vegeta won't hurt me!
Kurama:...what makes you so sure...?
Anemone:...because YOU'RE here, silly!
Kurama: *sweatdrop* errr...*dreads the potential danger of fighting a pissed-off Saiyan* ...
Anemone: Fox!
Kurama: hm?
Anemone: line...
Kurama: oh! Right...chapt-
Vegeta: -hey, Woman...where do you keep the Sugar-Coated Butter Cookies?
Anemone: the what-whats...?
Vegeta: *annoyed sigh* nevermind...I'll find SOMETHING that fits my standards...I suppose...*leaves for kitchen again*
Anemone: *turns to readers* don't get me wrong...Cabbage is great! He's very cool, one of my top 3 fav dbz characters...and he can be nice...ish....................but I miss Flames! *whimper* We haven't seen or heard from him in a week! And if he hasn't managed to escape from Anneliese by now to seek revenge on Fox *Kurama shivers at the thought of how pissed Hiei must be by now*, something is severely wrong!
Kurama: why don't we go looking for him after the chapter?
Anemone: *beams* great idea, Fox!!
Kurama: we'd best get through this then...and I bet Vegeta will help too...he and Hiei go pretty far back.
Anemone: awesome! *turns to readers* Don't worry, my loyal fans! Hiei will soon return to us! And we'll have Vegeta over more often, too...ooh!! I know! I'll have a party to celebrate Flames's return! I'll invite Miroku, and Mirai Trunks, and Sango, and Botan *Kurama beams*, and Cabbage, and Anneliese, and her cousin Ellen *the co-writer of the story I told you guys to check out*, and Vash, and Meryl, and Wolfwood, and Millie, and Goku, and Chi-Chi, and Flames-
Kurama: -Mones!
Anemone: yeah?
Kurama: we can plan your party AFTER we find him...meaning, AFTER the story and AFTER we actually go looking.
Anemone: oh. Uh, heh? Line!
Kurama: *sigh* right. Chapter 32. Enjoy.
Chapter 32: The Clash of Father and Son
Yoko growled a half-rabid grunt behind an eerily calm smirk...it just about shook everyone up, sending shivers up their spines and ripples of goosebumps over their flesh. Yusuke took a wavering step back, dragging the unconscious Hiei slightly. Yukina whimpered and shivered violently in Kuwabara's hold, the punk unable to look at her without tears welling in his onyx eyes.
"Yukina..." he whispered delicately, holding the bleeding demonness close.
"I'm...I'm fine, K-Kazuma..." she stuttered through a fragile smile. Kuwabara only held her closer.
"What's the matter, Father?" Yoko's devious smirk deepened viciously, his tone as monotonous as his expression calm and taunting. "Did you not suspect I'd make an appearance? Suichi is strong...but, hardly to your standards...he simply had no choice but to let the mut out to play."
Grapko growled in the core of his throat...but then, a sneer of potential genious broke to his face. "Well, Yoko...now that you're in charge of the body, I suppose you won't mind if I dispose of the annoying deity, ne?"
Yoko's dagger glare narrowed even sharper. 'Suichi is very much in love with that bluette...if I were to allow her demise, no doubt my slightly more reckless human counterpart would commit suicide, killing us both.' (a/n: um...I'm not sure if Yoko would just come back to life if Kurama committed suicide...but, according to this story, Yoko isn't strong enough to take over the body on his own, so if Suichi decides to kill himself, Yoko goes down too...don't flame me it that isn't probable! I'll shut up now. Continue!)
'Damn straight I would!' Suichi roared, Yoko pricking slightly. 'What? Surprised? Did I not already say I wasn't about to let you take over completely, Yoko?'
'Let me handle this, Suichi.'
'I will...I must...but know this...if she dies, so will we...understand?'
'The dominant personality makes the rules, I suppose...' the demon countered calmly to his humanoid self. 'very well...her safety is ensured.'
'It better be, Yoko...' Suichi threatened lowly.
"Touch her, and die," Yoko breathed calmly, though his platinum brows arched dangerously low over narrow golden eyes. 'Does that work for you, Suichi?' the mut smirked inwardly.
'Live up to those words, and yes it will,' the human of the two smirked in return.
"Oh, that threat worked AMAZINGLY well when you stated it for the safety of the sibling Koorimes," the wolf smirked.
"You believed it a bluff?" Yoko's tone was low and lacking of sentimentality. "You truly lack a memory...you above all should know...I never bluff."
Grapko grunted a menacing smirk...his form blurred against color, racing for the stunned Botan.
"GAH! BOTAN!" Yusuke yelled into the battle field.
Yoko glared devilishly, and sprinted off for the deity's direction. 'If you don't get to her, Yoko-'
'-Silence, Suichi, I've got it covered...she won't die...'
"AHHHH!!" Botan screamed as the wolf dashed straight for her. Her raspberry eyes pinched shut as she quivered against the stone wall. "HELP ME!!"
Grapko grinned to expose his lustrously pearly fangs as he approached the terrified bluette. He slashed down his claws straight for her neck, about to rip viciously into her fragile, ivory flesh...when Yoko's violent kick met to Grapko's temple, the stunned wolf flying instantly for a violent jerk to the left. Yoko stepped softly to her side, completely ignoring her and her gaping stare up to his milky complection. "K...Kurama..."
"I told you not to touch her...lucky I spared you from an immediate murder, eh?" the mut smirked at the pure-bred. Slowly, his stabbing eyes cast for Botan, sitting just to his side. "Suichi loves you very much...it wouldn't be in my best interest to allow you to die...for Suichi is dominant over the body, and would commit suicide over you...just know it's nothing personal between you and this current state of your little boyfriend...I just really don't feel like dying at my own hand."
Botan simply blinked in response. "So...so, Kurama, Kurama DOES love me?!" she breathed in start.
"Hn..." the mut grunted.
Suddenly, with a slow blink, Yoko's eyes flashed to a gentle, soft glare of stunning emerald. Botan pricked at the sight...Yoko winced, his eyes stinging golden. 'no more interruptions, Suichi!' he growled the seething thought to his humanoid personality.
'Sorry,' Suichi snickered. 'I'll leave you be now.'
"Wow it must be wierd inside Kurama's head if he's got like two but like one person in him..." Kuwabara blinked in confusion.
"Moron..." a chaffed, husked stutter escaped Hiei's quivering lips.
"Looks like Flames is pretty much fine," Yusuke eyed the fire demon still gurgling to consciousness. "...he's still dissin' Kuwa...that's dedication for ya!"
"Shut up, Detective..."
"Oh Hiei!" Hinegeshi sighed in relief, clenching his hand firmly in both her own...Hiei in turn gripped back, a soft smile gracing his lips briefly, then he set his expression grave, deciding to dignify Kuwabara's accusation with the truth.
"Kurama was one single spirit, one soul, that of the mut demon you see before you," he explained through rasps of breaths. "But, when he was reincarnated into a human, he ended up polishing a split personality...a human one, and the demonic one. Both are fully aware of the other's actions, and both are constantly in mild disagreement to full on war."
"How do you know this?!" Yusuke eyed the fire Koorime in his grasp. Hiei cast an annoyed glare up at him.
"Two reasons...he's my best friend, and I'm a telepath...I've actually heard some of his mental battles with himself...that's just how he's lived for the majority of his human life...Yoko doesn't give a damn about Botan's life...but our Suichi-Kurama is in there, probably yelling at Yoko to make sure Botan is alright...because if she isn't..." a brief pause stung the group to silence. "...we can guarantee that once Red is back in control...there may be a case of suicide."
"What?!" Keiko and Hinegeshi pricked in unison. "He can't!"
"He can...and probably will if Yoko doesn't keep on eye on Botan's well being."
"HAI!" Yoko growled, his claws ready to dig straight for Grapko's throat.
"That's wierd..." Yusuke blinked. "He isn't using any plants."
"His father taught him half his plant techniques..." Hiei's tone was gruff and strained. "Though wolves aren't so great at them, he still knows Yoko's moves to a fault...all Kurama can mainly depend on in his cleverness and brawn...maybe a plant concoction at some point, but we've yet to see."
Growls and snares rang rabid from father and son as the two bore their teeth in pearly grits. Grapko leapt vivaciously for the crouching Yoko, his claws ready to dig right for his son's collarbone. Yoko, however, dodged with the grace that only the mut Kurama could possess, instantly slashing at the wolf's upper back, bloody slits gushing of heavy masses. The wolf snarled dangerously, and swiped his fist for Yoko's stomach...as the frame of jagged knuckles stabbed into the mut's tender sore from before, pain stung Yoko's eyes wide, and they flashed emerald for the briefest of seconds before singeing back to the narrow gold that mirrored his father's.
"He's not acting anything like the Yoko I've seen..." Kuwabara blinked as he gaped, remembering the dark tournament and Yoko's battle against Uriurishma (a/n can't spell lol but it's the guy with the fishing rod). "He's not nearly as calm."
"Well obviously..." Hiei grunted through the pain of his bleeding stomach, still leaning in the Detective's hold. "Yoko was calmer then because his opponent was hardly worth his time...but now he's battling his own father, the one who made him so ruthless and dangerous...which is what he needs to be now...not tauntingly calm."
Yoko tore away from Grapko's punch, hugging the spot greedily. With the mut's guard down, Grapko licked his fangs in a devious grin, slashing his claws into Yoko's face. Because of the mut's denser skin via Ryooki's arrow, only a few slits ran down the mut's cheek, but Yoko growled a rabid roar of anger nonetheless. The mut dodged punch after punch, slash after slash with timed grace and steps, though he seemed rather stunned at Grapko's enhanced speed. 'He's toying with me...he could go much faster...I just have to match his speed, and not to advance mine past his, that will only lead to his advantage...'
And Grapko indeed enhance his speed. He kept up the pattern of attacks, though he was acting upon them faster. Yoko grunted in awed frustration with every dodge, the wolf's speed growing beyond Yoko's abilities. 'If I wasn't half fox, I'd the speed he possesses...damn! He's so fast!'
Faster, faster every swipe Grapko took to his son, Yoko growing steadily too slow, each lash and punch just missed by a hair. 'Dammit, Yoko hold still!' Grapko thought angrily.
And came the attack Yoko knew Grapko would perform...a kick, out of the blue. The mut instantly kicked to guard the wolf's leg, the two standing with laced attacks. They ripped apart at the exact instant, both pounding for the other in attack. Grapko slashed for Yoko's chest just as Yoko punched for the wolf's stomach. Both blocked the other's attempts, both failing in their own tries, both snarling in frustration.
Yoko finally kicked off against the stone floor, landing gracefully just behind Grapko. Before the mut could whirl around with an attack of his dagger claws, Grapko dove downwards, jerking back up in a granite head-but to Yoko's stomach. Yoko winced and glared in anger, tearing apart from Grapko's skull. The wolf whirled to a firm stand, and lashed his ripping claws for Yoko's neck, this time issuing enough force to rip through the skin and tear into the pulse. But Yoko's flashing eyes saw him coming, and his dodged with a slight leap back, his chest just barely grazed with three breaks in the flesh. The mut wound his arms around Grapko's, instantly dragging the wolf down and digging his elbow into his father's face. He thread his arms away from the wolf's in a blink's motion, leaping upward into the air, and landing straight into Grapko's shoulder-blades. The wolf was smashed into the stone floor, another crater cracking on impact. Yoko kicked away from Grapko's trembling form, standing firm and ready for the wolf's next attack.
Grapko slowly tore his face from the rock and debris his contact with the floor created, blood lacing his bruised features to the stone. His form blurred against the air and from Yoko's sight. The mut growled, eyeing all directions, when he felt the sensation of a presence just behind him.
He dove to the floor as Grapko's fists crammed against eaqch other in an attempt to smash both sides of the mut's head. Yoko stabbed a kick against the wolf's chest, and eased away from the wolf in a firm stand. Yoko then dashed straight for his father, a gnarled fist ready to slam against Grapko's heart, when the wolf curled broad palms around each of Yoko's hands, and, tugging the boy downwards, kneed him forcefully into the chin. Yoko was ripped from Grapko's grip by the impact into his father's knee, the teenager flying into the air, blood gurgling into his stunned, gaping mouth.
Grapko then blurred into the air yet again, reappearing yet again just above Yoko's still form, both in midair and descending for the floor below. Grapko roared gleeful grunts at his son's agony, stabbing eight punches and a kick into the mut's stomach. Each impact brought a sting of pain to the mut's tattering form, his eyes flashing wide. The kick was to his left side, sending Yoko straight for the opposite wall from his companions. Dust and rock sputtered instantly from his forceful impact, scuffs and gashes forming into his tough skin. Yoko ripped from the wall, slipping for the ground. He flopped slightly come contact for the floor, but he remained still. Grapko pressed to the floor lightly.
"Kurama!" Botan squealed, the demon having landed just three yards to her left. 'Oh no! Kurama! Please, don't be hurt!'
"You're weak," Grapko smirked.
Yoko smirked in return, flipping to a firm stand. "Just a little out of practice...I'm usually kept all cooped up in the back of Suichi's head, so this is a present from him."
'He's alright,' Botan breathed a smile of relief at the sight of the graced flip.
"Whatever, Mut!" the wolf growled, diving straight for Yoko yet again. The teenager dashed for the side, and dug his elbow into Grapko's mid-back, the wolf being bashed into the floor. Yoko then sprinted to the cavern's center in waiting for the wolf's recovering stand. Yoko crouched low in stance, ready to pounce or defend against Grapko.
The wolf pulsed in slight chuckles as he eased to a stand. His left ear flicked against the crown of his head, and his sleek tail slashed against his leg. "Why do you attempt to avoid the enevitable? You are going to die, Yoko."
"I don't accept bluffs from the losing side," the mut glared in response to the snickering wolf. "Neither of us should bluff at this point, we both know there is no point and that our best as already been put into this fight."
"Coming from someone who isn't using his natural strength...using Ryooki's arrow and a ruby from Koenma," Grapko scoffed.
"Don't even scold me of fake strength...you had an operation to ensure you unnatural brawn, power unthinkable for the wolf breed," Yoko's glare narrowed dangerously thin.
"I suppose you're right, boy," Grapko sneered. "Let us cut off from conversation and continue to battle then."
"Finally...I thought you'd never ask," Yoko grunted with a deadly expression tainting his features. Both lunged for each other, both linking gnarled fists into the other's cheek, both being jerked back slightly from the other's force.
"Aw man!" Kuwabara gaped in disbelief. "This is unreal...it's unthinkable how powerful they both are!"
"Both are using fake strength boosters, neither lack stubbornness, and both hold a vengeful hatred for the other..." Hiei breathed after his observation. "...there really is no way of telling which will win."
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
Anemone: hey there! Yupyup, a decent chapter, if I do say so myself...what did you think? What was your favorite part? Tell me, I'm very interested. And I'm very sorry if you don't think Yoko is quite in character...but, you have to remember...he's battling his father, an insane creature who he hates with every fiber of his being, and vice versa...so, he's more reckless and less calm because Grapko was the one who made him so corrupt in the first place, and living as a human taught him how awful Kurama really was when he was a demon, so he REALLY hates Grapko for doing that to him and for everything else he's done to his Suichi counterpart, like kidnaping Botan and trying to kill Hiei. *mood swing from seriousness to randomness* But anywho...!
Kurama: erm...Anemone? We still must go out in search for Hiei...
Anemone: huh? OH YEAH! lol...okay then...we're gonna head out...*turns to readers* hey, wanna come?!
Kurama: heh, Mones...it may take a while to find him and Anne-
Anemone: -of course you do! Let's go! Oh, but before we do...Cabbage! *long pause, Vegeta ignoring her* Cabbage?
Kurama: *whispering* maybe you should just call him Vegeta, Mones...
Anemone: *annoyed sigh* FINE...Vegeta?
Vegeta: what?
Anemone: could you please tell the loverly readers to review?
Vegeta: why don't you?
Anemone: because it doesn't work that way! Now tell them.
Vegeta: no.
Anemone: *about to yell something very rude, when Kurama clasps over her mouth*
Kurama: please review! Okay there now we can go, Mones.
Anemone: *glare* fine.
*scene: Kurama, Anemone, and a reluctant Vegeta are out in the park at night looking for Hiei...Kurama's got a flashlight, Vegeta's just kind of tagging along, and Anemone's got a butterfly net*
Kurama: explain to me again why you brought a butterfly net, Mones...
Anemone: simple! So I can catch Hiei before he tries to kill you.
Kurama: *rolls eyes* oh.
Vegeta: hmpf...a butterfly net? Truly, human, you understand nothing about what it takes to hold back a pissed off fire demon.
Anemone: ...be quiet.
Kurama: shh! I think I hear something! *a slight rustling noise, the three side-glance each other, and dash for the spot*
Anemone: Flames?! Are you there?! *to be continued...go review, please.*
Vegeta: Woman, where's the kitchen?
Anemone: hey!!
Kurama: refrian from such crude labeling, Vegeta...
Vegeta: *glare, growl*
Kurama: erm...or not.
Anemone: hmpf...it's downstairs, Cabbage.
Vegeta: why does every woman I know call me that?! My Woman *Bulma*, Kakorat's Woman *Chi-Chi*, Kakorat's Spawn's Woman *Videl*, Kakorat's Spawn's Spawn *Pan*...
Anemone: cuz you call us all 'woman'...if you call me Anemone, or even Mones, then I won't call you Cabbage, Cabbage.
Vegeta: *grumble* ningens...*leaves room in search for the kitchen*
Kurama: *whispering to Anemone* are you sure you can speak with Vegeta that way? I mean, yes, we are decent friends with him, but he is an elder...
Anemone: *whispering back* -and Hiei isn't? Flames is like as old as Yoko...and yet we talk to Hiei the same way...lacking in any and all respect!
Kurama: ...because Hiei is a more consistent visitor than Vegeta...we aren't as close to him as we are to Hiei.
Anemone: oh well...they're practically the same person anyway...short, spiky hair, strong, and bad-tempered...Vegeta won't hurt me!
Kurama:...what makes you so sure...?
Anemone:...because YOU'RE here, silly!
Kurama: *sweatdrop* errr...*dreads the potential danger of fighting a pissed-off Saiyan* ...
Anemone: Fox!
Kurama: hm?
Anemone: line...
Kurama: oh! Right...chapt-
Vegeta: -hey, Woman...where do you keep the Sugar-Coated Butter Cookies?
Anemone: the what-whats...?
Vegeta: *annoyed sigh* nevermind...I'll find SOMETHING that fits my standards...I suppose...*leaves for kitchen again*
Anemone: *turns to readers* don't get me wrong...Cabbage is great! He's very cool, one of my top 3 fav dbz characters...and he can be nice...ish....................but I miss Flames! *whimper* We haven't seen or heard from him in a week! And if he hasn't managed to escape from Anneliese by now to seek revenge on Fox *Kurama shivers at the thought of how pissed Hiei must be by now*, something is severely wrong!
Kurama: why don't we go looking for him after the chapter?
Anemone: *beams* great idea, Fox!!
Kurama: we'd best get through this then...and I bet Vegeta will help too...he and Hiei go pretty far back.
Anemone: awesome! *turns to readers* Don't worry, my loyal fans! Hiei will soon return to us! And we'll have Vegeta over more often, too...ooh!! I know! I'll have a party to celebrate Flames's return! I'll invite Miroku, and Mirai Trunks, and Sango, and Botan *Kurama beams*, and Cabbage, and Anneliese, and her cousin Ellen *the co-writer of the story I told you guys to check out*, and Vash, and Meryl, and Wolfwood, and Millie, and Goku, and Chi-Chi, and Flames-
Kurama: -Mones!
Anemone: yeah?
Kurama: we can plan your party AFTER we find him...meaning, AFTER the story and AFTER we actually go looking.
Anemone: oh. Uh, heh? Line!
Kurama: *sigh* right. Chapter 32. Enjoy.
Chapter 32: The Clash of Father and Son
Yoko growled a half-rabid grunt behind an eerily calm smirk...it just about shook everyone up, sending shivers up their spines and ripples of goosebumps over their flesh. Yusuke took a wavering step back, dragging the unconscious Hiei slightly. Yukina whimpered and shivered violently in Kuwabara's hold, the punk unable to look at her without tears welling in his onyx eyes.
"Yukina..." he whispered delicately, holding the bleeding demonness close.
"I'm...I'm fine, K-Kazuma..." she stuttered through a fragile smile. Kuwabara only held her closer.
"What's the matter, Father?" Yoko's devious smirk deepened viciously, his tone as monotonous as his expression calm and taunting. "Did you not suspect I'd make an appearance? Suichi is strong...but, hardly to your standards...he simply had no choice but to let the mut out to play."
Grapko growled in the core of his throat...but then, a sneer of potential genious broke to his face. "Well, Yoko...now that you're in charge of the body, I suppose you won't mind if I dispose of the annoying deity, ne?"
Yoko's dagger glare narrowed even sharper. 'Suichi is very much in love with that bluette...if I were to allow her demise, no doubt my slightly more reckless human counterpart would commit suicide, killing us both.' (a/n: um...I'm not sure if Yoko would just come back to life if Kurama committed suicide...but, according to this story, Yoko isn't strong enough to take over the body on his own, so if Suichi decides to kill himself, Yoko goes down too...don't flame me it that isn't probable! I'll shut up now. Continue!)
'Damn straight I would!' Suichi roared, Yoko pricking slightly. 'What? Surprised? Did I not already say I wasn't about to let you take over completely, Yoko?'
'Let me handle this, Suichi.'
'I will...I must...but know this...if she dies, so will we...understand?'
'The dominant personality makes the rules, I suppose...' the demon countered calmly to his humanoid self. 'very well...her safety is ensured.'
'It better be, Yoko...' Suichi threatened lowly.
"Touch her, and die," Yoko breathed calmly, though his platinum brows arched dangerously low over narrow golden eyes. 'Does that work for you, Suichi?' the mut smirked inwardly.
'Live up to those words, and yes it will,' the human of the two smirked in return.
"Oh, that threat worked AMAZINGLY well when you stated it for the safety of the sibling Koorimes," the wolf smirked.
"You believed it a bluff?" Yoko's tone was low and lacking of sentimentality. "You truly lack a memory...you above all should know...I never bluff."
Grapko grunted a menacing smirk...his form blurred against color, racing for the stunned Botan.
"GAH! BOTAN!" Yusuke yelled into the battle field.
Yoko glared devilishly, and sprinted off for the deity's direction. 'If you don't get to her, Yoko-'
'-Silence, Suichi, I've got it covered...she won't die...'
"AHHHH!!" Botan screamed as the wolf dashed straight for her. Her raspberry eyes pinched shut as she quivered against the stone wall. "HELP ME!!"
Grapko grinned to expose his lustrously pearly fangs as he approached the terrified bluette. He slashed down his claws straight for her neck, about to rip viciously into her fragile, ivory flesh...when Yoko's violent kick met to Grapko's temple, the stunned wolf flying instantly for a violent jerk to the left. Yoko stepped softly to her side, completely ignoring her and her gaping stare up to his milky complection. "K...Kurama..."
"I told you not to touch her...lucky I spared you from an immediate murder, eh?" the mut smirked at the pure-bred. Slowly, his stabbing eyes cast for Botan, sitting just to his side. "Suichi loves you very much...it wouldn't be in my best interest to allow you to die...for Suichi is dominant over the body, and would commit suicide over you...just know it's nothing personal between you and this current state of your little boyfriend...I just really don't feel like dying at my own hand."
Botan simply blinked in response. "So...so, Kurama, Kurama DOES love me?!" she breathed in start.
"Hn..." the mut grunted.
Suddenly, with a slow blink, Yoko's eyes flashed to a gentle, soft glare of stunning emerald. Botan pricked at the sight...Yoko winced, his eyes stinging golden. 'no more interruptions, Suichi!' he growled the seething thought to his humanoid personality.
'Sorry,' Suichi snickered. 'I'll leave you be now.'
"Wow it must be wierd inside Kurama's head if he's got like two but like one person in him..." Kuwabara blinked in confusion.
"Moron..." a chaffed, husked stutter escaped Hiei's quivering lips.
"Looks like Flames is pretty much fine," Yusuke eyed the fire demon still gurgling to consciousness. "...he's still dissin' Kuwa...that's dedication for ya!"
"Shut up, Detective..."
"Oh Hiei!" Hinegeshi sighed in relief, clenching his hand firmly in both her own...Hiei in turn gripped back, a soft smile gracing his lips briefly, then he set his expression grave, deciding to dignify Kuwabara's accusation with the truth.
"Kurama was one single spirit, one soul, that of the mut demon you see before you," he explained through rasps of breaths. "But, when he was reincarnated into a human, he ended up polishing a split personality...a human one, and the demonic one. Both are fully aware of the other's actions, and both are constantly in mild disagreement to full on war."
"How do you know this?!" Yusuke eyed the fire Koorime in his grasp. Hiei cast an annoyed glare up at him.
"Two reasons...he's my best friend, and I'm a telepath...I've actually heard some of his mental battles with himself...that's just how he's lived for the majority of his human life...Yoko doesn't give a damn about Botan's life...but our Suichi-Kurama is in there, probably yelling at Yoko to make sure Botan is alright...because if she isn't..." a brief pause stung the group to silence. "...we can guarantee that once Red is back in control...there may be a case of suicide."
"What?!" Keiko and Hinegeshi pricked in unison. "He can't!"
"He can...and probably will if Yoko doesn't keep on eye on Botan's well being."
"HAI!" Yoko growled, his claws ready to dig straight for Grapko's throat.
"That's wierd..." Yusuke blinked. "He isn't using any plants."
"His father taught him half his plant techniques..." Hiei's tone was gruff and strained. "Though wolves aren't so great at them, he still knows Yoko's moves to a fault...all Kurama can mainly depend on in his cleverness and brawn...maybe a plant concoction at some point, but we've yet to see."
Growls and snares rang rabid from father and son as the two bore their teeth in pearly grits. Grapko leapt vivaciously for the crouching Yoko, his claws ready to dig right for his son's collarbone. Yoko, however, dodged with the grace that only the mut Kurama could possess, instantly slashing at the wolf's upper back, bloody slits gushing of heavy masses. The wolf snarled dangerously, and swiped his fist for Yoko's stomach...as the frame of jagged knuckles stabbed into the mut's tender sore from before, pain stung Yoko's eyes wide, and they flashed emerald for the briefest of seconds before singeing back to the narrow gold that mirrored his father's.
"He's not acting anything like the Yoko I've seen..." Kuwabara blinked as he gaped, remembering the dark tournament and Yoko's battle against Uriurishma (a/n can't spell lol but it's the guy with the fishing rod). "He's not nearly as calm."
"Well obviously..." Hiei grunted through the pain of his bleeding stomach, still leaning in the Detective's hold. "Yoko was calmer then because his opponent was hardly worth his time...but now he's battling his own father, the one who made him so ruthless and dangerous...which is what he needs to be now...not tauntingly calm."
Yoko tore away from Grapko's punch, hugging the spot greedily. With the mut's guard down, Grapko licked his fangs in a devious grin, slashing his claws into Yoko's face. Because of the mut's denser skin via Ryooki's arrow, only a few slits ran down the mut's cheek, but Yoko growled a rabid roar of anger nonetheless. The mut dodged punch after punch, slash after slash with timed grace and steps, though he seemed rather stunned at Grapko's enhanced speed. 'He's toying with me...he could go much faster...I just have to match his speed, and not to advance mine past his, that will only lead to his advantage...'
And Grapko indeed enhance his speed. He kept up the pattern of attacks, though he was acting upon them faster. Yoko grunted in awed frustration with every dodge, the wolf's speed growing beyond Yoko's abilities. 'If I wasn't half fox, I'd the speed he possesses...damn! He's so fast!'
Faster, faster every swipe Grapko took to his son, Yoko growing steadily too slow, each lash and punch just missed by a hair. 'Dammit, Yoko hold still!' Grapko thought angrily.
And came the attack Yoko knew Grapko would perform...a kick, out of the blue. The mut instantly kicked to guard the wolf's leg, the two standing with laced attacks. They ripped apart at the exact instant, both pounding for the other in attack. Grapko slashed for Yoko's chest just as Yoko punched for the wolf's stomach. Both blocked the other's attempts, both failing in their own tries, both snarling in frustration.
Yoko finally kicked off against the stone floor, landing gracefully just behind Grapko. Before the mut could whirl around with an attack of his dagger claws, Grapko dove downwards, jerking back up in a granite head-but to Yoko's stomach. Yoko winced and glared in anger, tearing apart from Grapko's skull. The wolf whirled to a firm stand, and lashed his ripping claws for Yoko's neck, this time issuing enough force to rip through the skin and tear into the pulse. But Yoko's flashing eyes saw him coming, and his dodged with a slight leap back, his chest just barely grazed with three breaks in the flesh. The mut wound his arms around Grapko's, instantly dragging the wolf down and digging his elbow into his father's face. He thread his arms away from the wolf's in a blink's motion, leaping upward into the air, and landing straight into Grapko's shoulder-blades. The wolf was smashed into the stone floor, another crater cracking on impact. Yoko kicked away from Grapko's trembling form, standing firm and ready for the wolf's next attack.
Grapko slowly tore his face from the rock and debris his contact with the floor created, blood lacing his bruised features to the stone. His form blurred against the air and from Yoko's sight. The mut growled, eyeing all directions, when he felt the sensation of a presence just behind him.
He dove to the floor as Grapko's fists crammed against eaqch other in an attempt to smash both sides of the mut's head. Yoko stabbed a kick against the wolf's chest, and eased away from the wolf in a firm stand. Yoko then dashed straight for his father, a gnarled fist ready to slam against Grapko's heart, when the wolf curled broad palms around each of Yoko's hands, and, tugging the boy downwards, kneed him forcefully into the chin. Yoko was ripped from Grapko's grip by the impact into his father's knee, the teenager flying into the air, blood gurgling into his stunned, gaping mouth.
Grapko then blurred into the air yet again, reappearing yet again just above Yoko's still form, both in midair and descending for the floor below. Grapko roared gleeful grunts at his son's agony, stabbing eight punches and a kick into the mut's stomach. Each impact brought a sting of pain to the mut's tattering form, his eyes flashing wide. The kick was to his left side, sending Yoko straight for the opposite wall from his companions. Dust and rock sputtered instantly from his forceful impact, scuffs and gashes forming into his tough skin. Yoko ripped from the wall, slipping for the ground. He flopped slightly come contact for the floor, but he remained still. Grapko pressed to the floor lightly.
"Kurama!" Botan squealed, the demon having landed just three yards to her left. 'Oh no! Kurama! Please, don't be hurt!'
"You're weak," Grapko smirked.
Yoko smirked in return, flipping to a firm stand. "Just a little out of practice...I'm usually kept all cooped up in the back of Suichi's head, so this is a present from him."
'He's alright,' Botan breathed a smile of relief at the sight of the graced flip.
"Whatever, Mut!" the wolf growled, diving straight for Yoko yet again. The teenager dashed for the side, and dug his elbow into Grapko's mid-back, the wolf being bashed into the floor. Yoko then sprinted to the cavern's center in waiting for the wolf's recovering stand. Yoko crouched low in stance, ready to pounce or defend against Grapko.
The wolf pulsed in slight chuckles as he eased to a stand. His left ear flicked against the crown of his head, and his sleek tail slashed against his leg. "Why do you attempt to avoid the enevitable? You are going to die, Yoko."
"I don't accept bluffs from the losing side," the mut glared in response to the snickering wolf. "Neither of us should bluff at this point, we both know there is no point and that our best as already been put into this fight."
"Coming from someone who isn't using his natural strength...using Ryooki's arrow and a ruby from Koenma," Grapko scoffed.
"Don't even scold me of fake strength...you had an operation to ensure you unnatural brawn, power unthinkable for the wolf breed," Yoko's glare narrowed dangerously thin.
"I suppose you're right, boy," Grapko sneered. "Let us cut off from conversation and continue to battle then."
"Finally...I thought you'd never ask," Yoko grunted with a deadly expression tainting his features. Both lunged for each other, both linking gnarled fists into the other's cheek, both being jerked back slightly from the other's force.
"Aw man!" Kuwabara gaped in disbelief. "This is unreal...it's unthinkable how powerful they both are!"
"Both are using fake strength boosters, neither lack stubbornness, and both hold a vengeful hatred for the other..." Hiei breathed after his observation. "...there really is no way of telling which will win."
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Anemone: hey there! Yupyup, a decent chapter, if I do say so myself...what did you think? What was your favorite part? Tell me, I'm very interested. And I'm very sorry if you don't think Yoko is quite in character...but, you have to remember...he's battling his father, an insane creature who he hates with every fiber of his being, and vice versa...so, he's more reckless and less calm because Grapko was the one who made him so corrupt in the first place, and living as a human taught him how awful Kurama really was when he was a demon, so he REALLY hates Grapko for doing that to him and for everything else he's done to his Suichi counterpart, like kidnaping Botan and trying to kill Hiei. *mood swing from seriousness to randomness* But anywho...!
Kurama: erm...Anemone? We still must go out in search for Hiei...
Anemone: huh? OH YEAH! lol...okay then...we're gonna head out...*turns to readers* hey, wanna come?!
Kurama: heh, Mones...it may take a while to find him and Anne-
Anemone: -of course you do! Let's go! Oh, but before we do...Cabbage! *long pause, Vegeta ignoring her* Cabbage?
Kurama: *whispering* maybe you should just call him Vegeta, Mones...
Anemone: *annoyed sigh* FINE...Vegeta?
Vegeta: what?
Anemone: could you please tell the loverly readers to review?
Vegeta: why don't you?
Anemone: because it doesn't work that way! Now tell them.
Vegeta: no.
Anemone: *about to yell something very rude, when Kurama clasps over her mouth*
Kurama: please review! Okay there now we can go, Mones.
Anemone: *glare* fine.
*scene: Kurama, Anemone, and a reluctant Vegeta are out in the park at night looking for Hiei...Kurama's got a flashlight, Vegeta's just kind of tagging along, and Anemone's got a butterfly net*
Kurama: explain to me again why you brought a butterfly net, Mones...
Anemone: simple! So I can catch Hiei before he tries to kill you.
Kurama: *rolls eyes* oh.
Vegeta: hmpf...a butterfly net? Truly, human, you understand nothing about what it takes to hold back a pissed off fire demon.
Anemone: ...be quiet.
Kurama: shh! I think I hear something! *a slight rustling noise, the three side-glance each other, and dash for the spot*
Anemone: Flames?! Are you there?! *to be continued...go review, please.*