*Anemone's room...there's about to be a party! Yay! Anyway...Anemone's trying to put up decorations, Kurama's helping...Anemone jumps down from ladder and fishes around through decorations to find the list...Anemone going through guest list one more time*
Anemone: okay...so people who are coming are...Goku, ChiChi, Mystic Gohan, Videl, Cabbage, Bulma, Mirai Trunks, Piccolo-
Kurama: -he's coming?
Anemone: yeah, he called last night and confirmed.
Kurama: ...he owns a phone...?
Anemone: *shrugs* I don't get it either. *continues with list* ...Krillin, 18, Master Roshi-
Kurama: -Master Roshi?! *remembers last time Master Roshi came over and he groped Anemone, resulting in Kurama having to force him off the property after the dirty old man was thoroughly beaten in the face by Mones*
Anemone: don't worry, Fox...*pulls out a metal bat* he won't dare be perverted tonight!
Kurama: ^_^' heh...
Anemone: *rests bat on shoulder, scans list* now let's see...Anneliese, Ellen...Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Shippo-
Kurama: *smirk* ah, another kitsune...
Anemone: -Sesshoumaru-
Kurama: er...is that wise?
Anemone: plenty! Rin's coming too, so he won't get all violent.
Kurama: oh...
Anemone: ...Vash, Meryl, Wolfwood, Millie, Knives-
Kurama: -gah?! Anemone, Knives is the third person you've confirmed is coming who is a danger...
Anemone: and the other two...?
Kurama: Sesshoumaru and Master Roshi.
Anemone: *waves bat in air*
Kurama: *sigh* fine...then just Sesshoumaru.
Anemone: c'mon, Fox...I invited their little bros, and since Vash and Inuyasha can fend 'em off, we're set!
Kurama: heh...
Anemone: *returns to list* Kenshin, Kaoru, Sanosuke, Megumi-
Kurama: -Megumi?!
Anemone: yeah...what's wrong?
Kurama: *shiver, remembers when she once confused him for Kenshin and started groping him...and even after his pleads for her to go away, and she realized it wasn't Kenshin, she continued groping him* does...does she HAVE to come...?
Anemone: ...yeah...?
Kurama: *grumble, turns back to decorations*
Anemone: hm...and the last few people are...Yusuke, Kuwabara, Keiko, Yukina, Hinegeshi, Botan- *Kurama smirks* -Flames- *Kurama looks scared* and that's it...along with these lovely readers! YAY! Party!
*doorbell rings, Kurama answers*
Kurama: hello, Piccolo...you're the first to arrive.
Piccolo: oh. *turns to go*
Kurama: erm...where are you going...?
Piccolo: I'll come back in an hour, I guess...*Anemone grabs his cape*
Anemone: oh no you don't! *drags him in* What's that? *points to a bowl in his hands*
Piccolo: *looks kind of annoyed, straightens cape* onion dip. Dende made me bring it cuz he couldn't come himself.
Anemone: yay! Thanks, Green!
Piccolo: *gives a 'what...?' expression, rolls eyes, sits down on couch waiting for another person to show up*
Anemone: just wait til everyone shows up...while we do this, you loverly readers go read!! PARTY!
Kurama: chapter 34, enjoy.
Chapter 34: From the Mut's Eyes
Grapko's tail flicked against his leg in frustration with every jump back he was forced to take...and that's when Yoko changed course.
The fox- wolf pressed his feet nimbly to the ground after a long leap into the air with whipping attacks...and he now sprinted a jump behind Grapko in preparation for a final attack...as the mut flipped lightly to just behind the wolf, he growled in the core of his throat, readying himself for his next assault.
"Encircling of Navy Flame!" Yoko roared vivaciously, a new twist on Suichi's trademark attack, 'Rose Whiplash'...the whip was engulfed with the violent facets of midnight blue and navy of Yoko's lightening energy. In mad circles it spun, lashing against Grapko's flesh and tearing into the dense muscle of the pure-bred's brawn.
The wolf growled and howled, throwing back his weighed head in agony and saliva-flooded yelps. He guarded himself with his own body, protecting vital areas with his own arms.
The attack was deadly...the navy glow licked to Botan's face as her delicate features gaped at the sight. 'His energy...it's so different from the human Kurama's attack...'
Hiei and the others watched on in awe as well. The blue glow hazed to Hiei's face, casting shadows in the crevices of his features...his scarlet eyes were wide in shock. "He...He can actually win!"
Stings of immense and total pain slapped raw against the break's of the wolf's flesh, blood leaking in broad streaks of glossy redness from the gashes. Yoko's energy singed in heat, causing all the more pain to afflict the pure-bred.
"Stupid mut!" Grapko growled violently, and coiled his wide palms about the coming lash of the whip. His skin tore instantly with contact to the spiked weapon, and the demonic energy saturating the core and surface of the whip burned scorches to the wolf's hand. Despite the slipperiness of the exposed, flowing blood, Grapko gripped hard to the whip, and jerked it, and it's master, towards him.
Yoko instantly tore away from his hold to the whip, dragging his energy along with it...the instant the navy aura was sucked from the dangerous piece of weaponry, the wolf was left with no more than a rose in his clutch.
As Grapko gaped at the simple flower his his bloodied grip, redness lacing his gashed palm to the tiny thorns of the now hardmless rose, Yoko kicked off against the ground, and jerked the sole of his foot in the dead center of the wolf's face. Grapko collapsed to the ground from Yoko's forceful kick, and the mut drew away...he had just bought some time to consult with Suichi.
'Suichi!' Yoko growled to find his countering subconscious. 'I don't have any more roses...what the hell do I do now?! I had the upper hand with the whip, but he's got it now!'
'Oh no...' Suichi breathed in response. 'We truly don't have any more roses?! Damn I was sure I had packed mo-' both human and demon of Kurama pricked in realization. 'Yukina!'
Yoko jerked narrowly stunned gold eyes for the fragile demonness...sure enough, she still wore one of Kurama's roses in her bushy mint hair. Without even a word, Hiei realized what was going on.
Before anyone in the side-lines could take note, the dragon blurred against the air to Yukina's side...he quickly, but gently, tore the rose from her hair, and whipped for the battle field.
"Hiei!" Yusuke yelled. "What are you doing?! You're going to be killed!"
'Come on, Hiei...' Suichi urged within the mind of the two Kuramas.
The dragon raced for the end of the vast cavern with everything his body could muster, every scrap of energy.
'Faster!' Yoko grunted to himself.
Hiei skid to a halt just beside Yoko, thrusting the rose into the mut's grip. Yoko and Hiei shared a brief gaze and both grunted smirks...until a frame of knuckles bashed against the dragon's already gashed stomach.
"PAH!" Hiei gasped a chaffed breath of air...the wolf had punched into Hiei's tender wound, Hiei's muscles subconsciously conforming to fit around the jags of the wolf's knuckles.
"Hiei!" Yoko growled at the sight. The dragon winced one eye open, and glared a dangerous glare at the wolf.
"B...bastard..." Hiei managed to stutter as his own blood swarmed in his mouth, slipping smoothly from the corner of his lips and gracing to his chin. Grapko simply smirked deviously at the dragon tender to his fist.
"Stupid boy..." Grapko snarled. "You know you're no match for me...you should have just died..."
"HIEI!" Yukina exclaimed. "NO!!" She was held back by only Kuwabara as she attempted to grace the battefield and assist her older brother.
"Hiei!" Botan shouted. "Grapko you asshole!!" the bluette in turn struggled against her shackles in her anger. He just kept picking on a demon already weakened...he had no honor as a warrior...Grapko was no more than a beast.
Grapko tore the tattered dragon from his puncturing fist, allowing Hiei's groaning form to make impact to the stone floor. The dragon instantly coiled his arms greedily about his stomach...the muscles had been completely thrashed, by both Grapko's claws and Grapko's punch.
Now the flame koorime attempted to ignore the agony pulsing through his abs...but the pain was worse than when he used the Black Dragon Wave and nearly destroyed his arm.
Just as the wolf was about to stab his claws right for the weakened Koorime's throat, Yoko kicked off into the air...and gushed his energy to the new rose in his clutch. A whip cracked against the air, and wrapped around the front of Grapko's neck. Yoko clutched to the other end, and pressed a step behind Grapko, the wolf's neck now the pole with which the snared vine coiled around.
Yoko tugged to the whip hard, veins stabbing in his arms from the pressure. He leveled one foot against Grapko's lower back, and hoisted against the whip with all his strengths.
Grapko's breaths were stolen from him in a way that only the legendary Yoko of Thieves could steal...the wolf stuttered against the gripping whip coiled about his broad neck...streaks of redness tore in smooth rolls from his throat...the thorns had stabbed into Grapko's neck, the dense flesh cracking with the tugging pressure Yoko jerked to Grapko's throat.
The wolf quievered despite himself...this was the end...he was going to die...fear boiled within him...and being half fox, Yoko was blessed with the ability to smell fear.
"You dread death..." Yoko sneered heinously into the wolf's flicking charcoal ear, his whisper rasped with the tauntingly threatening tone only Yoko could create. "...you fear your own demise...what kind of warrior are you to quiver at your coming end?"
Tears glossed in the wolf's golden eyes as he sensed his death and felt the pain singe his temples and nose red from strain.
"...you take the lives of thousands..." Yoko growled softly. "...you threaten the lives of Suichi's loved ones...and since I am Suichi in a sense, you threaten my loved one..."
Grapko stuttered in his fear.
"...you are no more than a pathetic monster..." Yoko whispered to cause Grapko's ear to pin against the crown of his head. "...you kill and murder...and yet you lack the honor to die with a straight face...how can you be my father?"
"...y-you refused to die...y-you actually w-went so, so far as t-to be-become h-human..." Grapko trembled in his terror.
"True, wolf...but that human life made me stronger...you, however, are still corrupted..." Yoko tugged harder to the whip, the thorns stabbing into already open gashes. Grapko wailed in moans of fear and pain, tears streaking his face. "Goodbye, beast," the mut scowled...and gushed an array of demonic energy into the whip. Grapko howled in pain as Yoko slit the spiked whip sharply for one side, snapping the beast's throat...blood sprayed instantly as the sound of flesh and tissue ripping rang into the air.
The girls all yelped...Yukina tucked her face into Kuwabara's chest, whimpering against him...the boy subconsciously held her close.
Hinegeshi winced, clasping her hands over her eyes.
Keiko pinched her eyes shut and nudged against Yusuke, the Detective lacing his fingers with hers.
And Botan gasped, guarding her eyes with her shackled wrists.
Grapko's corpse collapsed to the ground, blood and snagged tissue leaking from the open gash at the beast's throat. There Yoko stood, glaring piercing, emotionless eyes down at the wolf...as Grapko's energy dimmed, his silver mane faded back to red, his least powerful state. Grapko was dead, and there he lay, leaking of scarlet.
Yoko's eyes slowly pressed shut...his form was tired, his muscles relaxing for the first time since before Suichi's fight with Ryooki. "Should this ruby not dissolve, now?" Yoko inquired softly to himself. Hiei staggered to a wavering stand, clasping his thrashed, torn stomach.
"Hn..." the dragon grunted through a gnarled wince. Blood seeped from his tender, bruised abs, but he strained to ignore it. "What a wimp he is..."
"Indeed," Yoko cast narrow golden eyes for the bubbling corpse beneath him. The ruby about his neck dimmed of his brilliant sheen...it lacked any and all of a glow, and was simply stark red. The weight of the gem was soon lifted from Yoko's neck, as the beautiful ruby dissolved into the air.
It's color faded and it's sillhouette dimmed...it slowly melted into the air, disappearing into nothingness. The chain slipped from Yoko's slender neck and tumbled for the stone floor, it's diamond cut facets clanking and shimmering during it's descend for the ground.
Slowly, an eerie navy glow, much like that of Yoko's earlier attack, stung at the mut's mane. The flicking ears at the crown of his head melted against the scalp, and flesh tore from the sides of his head, shaping with the grooves and crevices of a human's ears. His tail melted into nothingness. The slicked, sheened platinum mane quickly stung from the roots to the end with Suichi's red, the smoothness roughened into the human's thick, bushy hair. His stature lowered slightly, his limbs shortening to conform to fit Suichi's height. His skin darkened slightly from Yoko's milky complection to Suichi's normal shade. The shape of his sharp face softened to the slightly number shape of Suichi's human countenance.
His narrow golden eyes pressed shut...and opened to be wider, glowing with Yoko's midnight blue aura. His eyes dimmed of the brilliance of the demonic ki, and gleamed with the brilliance of the humanoid's self...the trademark emerald was slit and faceted with as many gleams and glints as before...his beautiful emerald eyes. There stood Suichi...the human Kurama.
"Kurama!" Kuwabara laughed heartily. Kurama responded by flashing a tired smile in the direction of his companions. Hiei stepped slowly for Kurama's side, the two exchanging exhausted and pained looks...but both smiling. Kuwabara and Yusuke bolted for the two, each beaming in their shock and amazement.
"Aw, man, Kurama that was awesome!" Kuwabara grinned. Keiko, Hinegeshi and Yukina jogged for the boys as well.
"It wasn't that awesome," Kurama half-chuckled, the slope of his nose singeing red as he smiled modestly.
"Oh come on can't you ever be cocky?!" Yusuke rolled his eyes. "Don't be humble now, brag, dammit!"
"Brag of what? You were all witnesses...there's no need to brag," Kurama countered calmly.
"You're hopeless..." Yusuke shook his head...Keiko swapped him upside the head. "OW! Keiko, whadid I do?!"
"If Kurama wants to be humble about it I think it's very mature..." the brunette scolded. "...don't go trying to make him like you!"
Hiei snickered. "Indeed...Kurama shouldn't have to brag...he knows well how much more powerful he is in comparison to us, he doesn't need to convince himself."
"Hey!" Yusuke glared.
"It's true, Urimeshi..." Kuwabara sighed in agreement. This brought the group aback...Kuwabara actually AGREED with Hiei?! And it was a matter of Kurama being stronger than them?! Usually Kuwabara would have held on to his honor...but not now.
"I mean, yeah, normally I'd be all like, 'hell no, I'm just as strong!' but, I mean, Kurama proved that he's a hell of a lot stronger...I'm not gonna go against the truth."
"Oh Kazuma! That's so adult of you to admit!" Yukina praised the red-head's antics.
"Well, baby..." Kuwabara grinned stupidly. "You know I love to make you proud of me...that is why I try, SO hard!"
"Hey Kuwabara..." Yusuke clicked his tongue to his teeth. "...how come you're willing to admit Kurama's stronger than you...but you've still gotta agree that I am?"
"What?!" Kuwabara roared. "Because you're NOT, stupid! You're a idiot! One of these days I'm gonna beat the crap outta you!"
"Are you alright?" Hinegeshi approached Hiei, ignoring the others. Hiei winced a strained smile.
"Yeah..." he laced his hand with hers. "I'm fine."
Kurama then turned his back to his companions...and walked calmly for Botan.
The bluette blinked slowly as the fox approached her...both their hearts stopped. Kurama leveled himself with her, half kneeling, and slowly caught her fragile hands in his gentle hold. He examined them with care and precision locked into his brilliant eyes. Blood escaped her wrists from the constant scuffing caused by the shackles.
"Are you alright?" he inquired softly.
"Erm...oh!" she giggled, realizing he meant her bleeding wrists. "Yes...yes, I'm fine..." her cheeks singed red. The slope of Kurama's nose burned in a blush.
"Good..." he whispered.
"Yeah..." she nodded softly.
Kurama slowly gripped to the chains of her shackles...and ripped the metal rings apart, the chain severed and falling apart with the jerk of the fox's hold to it. Botan was now free...FINALLY...and they were so close...
Botan beamed cheerily up at him...Kurama smiled gently down at her...the pause was slow...
He could hear her delicate heart beats growing steadily louder with anticipation...
She could hear his steady heart beats growing gradually faster with eagerness...
His brilliantly emerald gaze locked solely into her niavely candy one...they were so close to each other...he could feel the blush singeing at the slope of his nose in his suspense...she could sense her cheeks burn with redness in her excitement...so close...so close...!
"Oh kiss already!!" Yusuke growled...before being elbowed by Keiko.
Now the closeness was awkward...'Stupid Yusuke!' Botan thought angrily. 'he might have actually kissed me if that idiot hadn't interrupted!'
'Damn...' Kurama thought bitterly. 'I almost had it...dammit, Yusuke! I would have kissed her if he hadn't of done that!'
Botan sat with her back against the wall...and Kurama was less than half a foot away, half-kneeling before her...they were so close...and now they both coughed through the awkward silence with blushing expressions.
"Yusuke you idiot..." Hiei scowled. "Now you've made the situation uncomfortable for them..."
Kurama rolled his eyes with a soft smile. He slowly laced his hand with Botan's and assisted the deity to her feet. The two exchanged another locking glance with each other, emerald to raspberry...when Kurama suddenly pricked, and snarled in pain.
"Kurama?" she inquired in confusion.
The fox roared in torment...his eyes tucked back to his head, his knees collapsing beneath him. Sweat beaded at his temple, and his face was tense in agony.
Kurama collapsed against her shoulder, unconscious, and quivering from immense pain.
"K-Kurama?!" Botan stuttered at the fainted boy leaning against her and trembling in pained torment.
"Oh shit!" Hiei blinked in rememberance. "The arrow!"
"Oh no I forgot about that!" Yusuke gasped.
"Kurama!" Keiko gaped.
"What arrow?!" Botan demanded sternly as she coiled her ivory arms around his back.
"Kazuma what do we do?!" Yukina trembled in fear.
"We have to get it out of him!" Hiei growled. "Before it's too late!"
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
*Anemone's room...everyone but Hiei has arrived so far...music="farther" by outspoken...Gohan dancing with Videl, Wolfwood dancing with Millie, Krillin dancing with 18, Miroku dancing with Sango, Kenshin dancing with Kaoru, Yusuke dancing with Keiko*
Master Roshi: hey there, Sexy...*tries to grope Anemone*
Kurama: Roshi step away from Anemone!
Anemone: it's okay, Fox...*pulls out bat, hits Roshi upside the head with it* NOW BEHAVE YOURSELF OR YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE AROUND MUCH LONGER!
Master Roshi: *kinda wobbly* yes ma'am...
Goku: *having eaten the entire table to food* hey Mones? Uh, where's the rest of the food?
Anemone: you ate it all?!
ChiChi: and he ate before we left.
Goku: *groaning* so....hungry......
Kurama: *sweatdrop* erm...sorry, Goku, but that was all the food in the house...
Goku: WHAT?! Ah!
Vegeta: oh shut up, you baby...
Goku: *sniffle*
Vash: *gasp* HE ATE ALL THE DONUTS?!
Meryl: you needed to cut down anyway...
Vash: ...but...but...
Megumi: *to Kurama* hey there, Red...wanna dance? *gets a little to close...*
Kurama: erm...*looks frantically for Botan...finds her talking to Yukina* ...no I've got a dance partner...my apologies! *rushes over to Botan and starts dancing with her*
Megumi: *grumble, looks for Sanosuke*
Anemone: now all we need is Flames, Anneliese and Ellen and this party's full...
*door bashes open...Hiei's standing there, hands in pockets, smirking*
Hiei: here's JOHNNY...
Kurama: uh-oh... *ducks behind Botan*
Botan: HI HIEI! *waving a lot, smiling*
Kurama: *whispering* Botan?! What are you doing?!
Botan: huh? I'm saying hello to Hiei...
Hiei: hello, Kurama...*evil smirk*
Kurama: erm...hello Hiei...
Ellen: *follows after Hiei* HI PEOPLE!
Anneliese: *follows after Ellen* HELLO!
Anemone: hey! YAY! Everyone's here! *Kurama runs by, Hiei chasing him with an unsheathed Katana* er...
Mirai Trunks: hey Anemone...wanna dance?
Anemone: SURE! *turns to readers* there's onion dip on the table-
Goku: *coughcough*...*avoiding Anemone's gaze*
Anemone: er...nevermind...Flames!
Hiei: *in hallway...Kurama pinching his Katana blade* what?!
Anemone: say your line!
Hiei: oh...go review...*rips Katana from Kurama's hold and tries to hit him again*
Vash: *goes out into hallway* can't we just all get along? C'mon, brother, love and peace!
Hiei and Kurama: ...
Anemone: *turns to readers* have fun, y'all! This party will go on to the next chapter too *yay*! Bye! *goes to dance with Mirai Trunks*
Kurama: Hiei please! It's a party! Have fun!
Hiei: *pause, blink* fun...? What the hell is fun...?!
Anemone: okay...so people who are coming are...Goku, ChiChi, Mystic Gohan, Videl, Cabbage, Bulma, Mirai Trunks, Piccolo-
Kurama: -he's coming?
Anemone: yeah, he called last night and confirmed.
Kurama: ...he owns a phone...?
Anemone: *shrugs* I don't get it either. *continues with list* ...Krillin, 18, Master Roshi-
Kurama: -Master Roshi?! *remembers last time Master Roshi came over and he groped Anemone, resulting in Kurama having to force him off the property after the dirty old man was thoroughly beaten in the face by Mones*
Anemone: don't worry, Fox...*pulls out a metal bat* he won't dare be perverted tonight!
Kurama: ^_^' heh...
Anemone: *rests bat on shoulder, scans list* now let's see...Anneliese, Ellen...Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, Shippo-
Kurama: *smirk* ah, another kitsune...
Anemone: -Sesshoumaru-
Kurama: er...is that wise?
Anemone: plenty! Rin's coming too, so he won't get all violent.
Kurama: oh...
Anemone: ...Vash, Meryl, Wolfwood, Millie, Knives-
Kurama: -gah?! Anemone, Knives is the third person you've confirmed is coming who is a danger...
Anemone: and the other two...?
Kurama: Sesshoumaru and Master Roshi.
Anemone: *waves bat in air*
Kurama: *sigh* fine...then just Sesshoumaru.
Anemone: c'mon, Fox...I invited their little bros, and since Vash and Inuyasha can fend 'em off, we're set!
Kurama: heh...
Anemone: *returns to list* Kenshin, Kaoru, Sanosuke, Megumi-
Kurama: -Megumi?!
Anemone: yeah...what's wrong?
Kurama: *shiver, remembers when she once confused him for Kenshin and started groping him...and even after his pleads for her to go away, and she realized it wasn't Kenshin, she continued groping him* does...does she HAVE to come...?
Anemone: ...yeah...?
Kurama: *grumble, turns back to decorations*
Anemone: hm...and the last few people are...Yusuke, Kuwabara, Keiko, Yukina, Hinegeshi, Botan- *Kurama smirks* -Flames- *Kurama looks scared* and that's it...along with these lovely readers! YAY! Party!
*doorbell rings, Kurama answers*
Kurama: hello, Piccolo...you're the first to arrive.
Piccolo: oh. *turns to go*
Kurama: erm...where are you going...?
Piccolo: I'll come back in an hour, I guess...*Anemone grabs his cape*
Anemone: oh no you don't! *drags him in* What's that? *points to a bowl in his hands*
Piccolo: *looks kind of annoyed, straightens cape* onion dip. Dende made me bring it cuz he couldn't come himself.
Anemone: yay! Thanks, Green!
Piccolo: *gives a 'what...?' expression, rolls eyes, sits down on couch waiting for another person to show up*
Anemone: just wait til everyone shows up...while we do this, you loverly readers go read!! PARTY!
Kurama: chapter 34, enjoy.
Chapter 34: From the Mut's Eyes
Grapko's tail flicked against his leg in frustration with every jump back he was forced to take...and that's when Yoko changed course.
The fox- wolf pressed his feet nimbly to the ground after a long leap into the air with whipping attacks...and he now sprinted a jump behind Grapko in preparation for a final attack...as the mut flipped lightly to just behind the wolf, he growled in the core of his throat, readying himself for his next assault.
"Encircling of Navy Flame!" Yoko roared vivaciously, a new twist on Suichi's trademark attack, 'Rose Whiplash'...the whip was engulfed with the violent facets of midnight blue and navy of Yoko's lightening energy. In mad circles it spun, lashing against Grapko's flesh and tearing into the dense muscle of the pure-bred's brawn.
The wolf growled and howled, throwing back his weighed head in agony and saliva-flooded yelps. He guarded himself with his own body, protecting vital areas with his own arms.
The attack was deadly...the navy glow licked to Botan's face as her delicate features gaped at the sight. 'His energy...it's so different from the human Kurama's attack...'
Hiei and the others watched on in awe as well. The blue glow hazed to Hiei's face, casting shadows in the crevices of his features...his scarlet eyes were wide in shock. "He...He can actually win!"
Stings of immense and total pain slapped raw against the break's of the wolf's flesh, blood leaking in broad streaks of glossy redness from the gashes. Yoko's energy singed in heat, causing all the more pain to afflict the pure-bred.
"Stupid mut!" Grapko growled violently, and coiled his wide palms about the coming lash of the whip. His skin tore instantly with contact to the spiked weapon, and the demonic energy saturating the core and surface of the whip burned scorches to the wolf's hand. Despite the slipperiness of the exposed, flowing blood, Grapko gripped hard to the whip, and jerked it, and it's master, towards him.
Yoko instantly tore away from his hold to the whip, dragging his energy along with it...the instant the navy aura was sucked from the dangerous piece of weaponry, the wolf was left with no more than a rose in his clutch.
As Grapko gaped at the simple flower his his bloodied grip, redness lacing his gashed palm to the tiny thorns of the now hardmless rose, Yoko kicked off against the ground, and jerked the sole of his foot in the dead center of the wolf's face. Grapko collapsed to the ground from Yoko's forceful kick, and the mut drew away...he had just bought some time to consult with Suichi.
'Suichi!' Yoko growled to find his countering subconscious. 'I don't have any more roses...what the hell do I do now?! I had the upper hand with the whip, but he's got it now!'
'Oh no...' Suichi breathed in response. 'We truly don't have any more roses?! Damn I was sure I had packed mo-' both human and demon of Kurama pricked in realization. 'Yukina!'
Yoko jerked narrowly stunned gold eyes for the fragile demonness...sure enough, she still wore one of Kurama's roses in her bushy mint hair. Without even a word, Hiei realized what was going on.
Before anyone in the side-lines could take note, the dragon blurred against the air to Yukina's side...he quickly, but gently, tore the rose from her hair, and whipped for the battle field.
"Hiei!" Yusuke yelled. "What are you doing?! You're going to be killed!"
'Come on, Hiei...' Suichi urged within the mind of the two Kuramas.
The dragon raced for the end of the vast cavern with everything his body could muster, every scrap of energy.
'Faster!' Yoko grunted to himself.
Hiei skid to a halt just beside Yoko, thrusting the rose into the mut's grip. Yoko and Hiei shared a brief gaze and both grunted smirks...until a frame of knuckles bashed against the dragon's already gashed stomach.
"PAH!" Hiei gasped a chaffed breath of air...the wolf had punched into Hiei's tender wound, Hiei's muscles subconsciously conforming to fit around the jags of the wolf's knuckles.
"Hiei!" Yoko growled at the sight. The dragon winced one eye open, and glared a dangerous glare at the wolf.
"B...bastard..." Hiei managed to stutter as his own blood swarmed in his mouth, slipping smoothly from the corner of his lips and gracing to his chin. Grapko simply smirked deviously at the dragon tender to his fist.
"Stupid boy..." Grapko snarled. "You know you're no match for me...you should have just died..."
"HIEI!" Yukina exclaimed. "NO!!" She was held back by only Kuwabara as she attempted to grace the battefield and assist her older brother.
"Hiei!" Botan shouted. "Grapko you asshole!!" the bluette in turn struggled against her shackles in her anger. He just kept picking on a demon already weakened...he had no honor as a warrior...Grapko was no more than a beast.
Grapko tore the tattered dragon from his puncturing fist, allowing Hiei's groaning form to make impact to the stone floor. The dragon instantly coiled his arms greedily about his stomach...the muscles had been completely thrashed, by both Grapko's claws and Grapko's punch.
Now the flame koorime attempted to ignore the agony pulsing through his abs...but the pain was worse than when he used the Black Dragon Wave and nearly destroyed his arm.
Just as the wolf was about to stab his claws right for the weakened Koorime's throat, Yoko kicked off into the air...and gushed his energy to the new rose in his clutch. A whip cracked against the air, and wrapped around the front of Grapko's neck. Yoko clutched to the other end, and pressed a step behind Grapko, the wolf's neck now the pole with which the snared vine coiled around.
Yoko tugged to the whip hard, veins stabbing in his arms from the pressure. He leveled one foot against Grapko's lower back, and hoisted against the whip with all his strengths.
Grapko's breaths were stolen from him in a way that only the legendary Yoko of Thieves could steal...the wolf stuttered against the gripping whip coiled about his broad neck...streaks of redness tore in smooth rolls from his throat...the thorns had stabbed into Grapko's neck, the dense flesh cracking with the tugging pressure Yoko jerked to Grapko's throat.
The wolf quievered despite himself...this was the end...he was going to die...fear boiled within him...and being half fox, Yoko was blessed with the ability to smell fear.
"You dread death..." Yoko sneered heinously into the wolf's flicking charcoal ear, his whisper rasped with the tauntingly threatening tone only Yoko could create. "...you fear your own demise...what kind of warrior are you to quiver at your coming end?"
Tears glossed in the wolf's golden eyes as he sensed his death and felt the pain singe his temples and nose red from strain.
"...you take the lives of thousands..." Yoko growled softly. "...you threaten the lives of Suichi's loved ones...and since I am Suichi in a sense, you threaten my loved one..."
Grapko stuttered in his fear.
"...you are no more than a pathetic monster..." Yoko whispered to cause Grapko's ear to pin against the crown of his head. "...you kill and murder...and yet you lack the honor to die with a straight face...how can you be my father?"
"...y-you refused to die...y-you actually w-went so, so far as t-to be-become h-human..." Grapko trembled in his terror.
"True, wolf...but that human life made me stronger...you, however, are still corrupted..." Yoko tugged harder to the whip, the thorns stabbing into already open gashes. Grapko wailed in moans of fear and pain, tears streaking his face. "Goodbye, beast," the mut scowled...and gushed an array of demonic energy into the whip. Grapko howled in pain as Yoko slit the spiked whip sharply for one side, snapping the beast's throat...blood sprayed instantly as the sound of flesh and tissue ripping rang into the air.
The girls all yelped...Yukina tucked her face into Kuwabara's chest, whimpering against him...the boy subconsciously held her close.
Hinegeshi winced, clasping her hands over her eyes.
Keiko pinched her eyes shut and nudged against Yusuke, the Detective lacing his fingers with hers.
And Botan gasped, guarding her eyes with her shackled wrists.
Grapko's corpse collapsed to the ground, blood and snagged tissue leaking from the open gash at the beast's throat. There Yoko stood, glaring piercing, emotionless eyes down at the wolf...as Grapko's energy dimmed, his silver mane faded back to red, his least powerful state. Grapko was dead, and there he lay, leaking of scarlet.
Yoko's eyes slowly pressed shut...his form was tired, his muscles relaxing for the first time since before Suichi's fight with Ryooki. "Should this ruby not dissolve, now?" Yoko inquired softly to himself. Hiei staggered to a wavering stand, clasping his thrashed, torn stomach.
"Hn..." the dragon grunted through a gnarled wince. Blood seeped from his tender, bruised abs, but he strained to ignore it. "What a wimp he is..."
"Indeed," Yoko cast narrow golden eyes for the bubbling corpse beneath him. The ruby about his neck dimmed of his brilliant sheen...it lacked any and all of a glow, and was simply stark red. The weight of the gem was soon lifted from Yoko's neck, as the beautiful ruby dissolved into the air.
It's color faded and it's sillhouette dimmed...it slowly melted into the air, disappearing into nothingness. The chain slipped from Yoko's slender neck and tumbled for the stone floor, it's diamond cut facets clanking and shimmering during it's descend for the ground.
Slowly, an eerie navy glow, much like that of Yoko's earlier attack, stung at the mut's mane. The flicking ears at the crown of his head melted against the scalp, and flesh tore from the sides of his head, shaping with the grooves and crevices of a human's ears. His tail melted into nothingness. The slicked, sheened platinum mane quickly stung from the roots to the end with Suichi's red, the smoothness roughened into the human's thick, bushy hair. His stature lowered slightly, his limbs shortening to conform to fit Suichi's height. His skin darkened slightly from Yoko's milky complection to Suichi's normal shade. The shape of his sharp face softened to the slightly number shape of Suichi's human countenance.
His narrow golden eyes pressed shut...and opened to be wider, glowing with Yoko's midnight blue aura. His eyes dimmed of the brilliance of the demonic ki, and gleamed with the brilliance of the humanoid's self...the trademark emerald was slit and faceted with as many gleams and glints as before...his beautiful emerald eyes. There stood Suichi...the human Kurama.
"Kurama!" Kuwabara laughed heartily. Kurama responded by flashing a tired smile in the direction of his companions. Hiei stepped slowly for Kurama's side, the two exchanging exhausted and pained looks...but both smiling. Kuwabara and Yusuke bolted for the two, each beaming in their shock and amazement.
"Aw, man, Kurama that was awesome!" Kuwabara grinned. Keiko, Hinegeshi and Yukina jogged for the boys as well.
"It wasn't that awesome," Kurama half-chuckled, the slope of his nose singeing red as he smiled modestly.
"Oh come on can't you ever be cocky?!" Yusuke rolled his eyes. "Don't be humble now, brag, dammit!"
"Brag of what? You were all witnesses...there's no need to brag," Kurama countered calmly.
"You're hopeless..." Yusuke shook his head...Keiko swapped him upside the head. "OW! Keiko, whadid I do?!"
"If Kurama wants to be humble about it I think it's very mature..." the brunette scolded. "...don't go trying to make him like you!"
Hiei snickered. "Indeed...Kurama shouldn't have to brag...he knows well how much more powerful he is in comparison to us, he doesn't need to convince himself."
"Hey!" Yusuke glared.
"It's true, Urimeshi..." Kuwabara sighed in agreement. This brought the group aback...Kuwabara actually AGREED with Hiei?! And it was a matter of Kurama being stronger than them?! Usually Kuwabara would have held on to his honor...but not now.
"I mean, yeah, normally I'd be all like, 'hell no, I'm just as strong!' but, I mean, Kurama proved that he's a hell of a lot stronger...I'm not gonna go against the truth."
"Oh Kazuma! That's so adult of you to admit!" Yukina praised the red-head's antics.
"Well, baby..." Kuwabara grinned stupidly. "You know I love to make you proud of me...that is why I try, SO hard!"
"Hey Kuwabara..." Yusuke clicked his tongue to his teeth. "...how come you're willing to admit Kurama's stronger than you...but you've still gotta agree that I am?"
"What?!" Kuwabara roared. "Because you're NOT, stupid! You're a idiot! One of these days I'm gonna beat the crap outta you!"
"Are you alright?" Hinegeshi approached Hiei, ignoring the others. Hiei winced a strained smile.
"Yeah..." he laced his hand with hers. "I'm fine."
Kurama then turned his back to his companions...and walked calmly for Botan.
The bluette blinked slowly as the fox approached her...both their hearts stopped. Kurama leveled himself with her, half kneeling, and slowly caught her fragile hands in his gentle hold. He examined them with care and precision locked into his brilliant eyes. Blood escaped her wrists from the constant scuffing caused by the shackles.
"Are you alright?" he inquired softly.
"Erm...oh!" she giggled, realizing he meant her bleeding wrists. "Yes...yes, I'm fine..." her cheeks singed red. The slope of Kurama's nose burned in a blush.
"Good..." he whispered.
"Yeah..." she nodded softly.
Kurama slowly gripped to the chains of her shackles...and ripped the metal rings apart, the chain severed and falling apart with the jerk of the fox's hold to it. Botan was now free...FINALLY...and they were so close...
Botan beamed cheerily up at him...Kurama smiled gently down at her...the pause was slow...
He could hear her delicate heart beats growing steadily louder with anticipation...
She could hear his steady heart beats growing gradually faster with eagerness...
His brilliantly emerald gaze locked solely into her niavely candy one...they were so close to each other...he could feel the blush singeing at the slope of his nose in his suspense...she could sense her cheeks burn with redness in her excitement...so close...so close...!
"Oh kiss already!!" Yusuke growled...before being elbowed by Keiko.
Now the closeness was awkward...'Stupid Yusuke!' Botan thought angrily. 'he might have actually kissed me if that idiot hadn't interrupted!'
'Damn...' Kurama thought bitterly. 'I almost had it...dammit, Yusuke! I would have kissed her if he hadn't of done that!'
Botan sat with her back against the wall...and Kurama was less than half a foot away, half-kneeling before her...they were so close...and now they both coughed through the awkward silence with blushing expressions.
"Yusuke you idiot..." Hiei scowled. "Now you've made the situation uncomfortable for them..."
Kurama rolled his eyes with a soft smile. He slowly laced his hand with Botan's and assisted the deity to her feet. The two exchanged another locking glance with each other, emerald to raspberry...when Kurama suddenly pricked, and snarled in pain.
"Kurama?" she inquired in confusion.
The fox roared in torment...his eyes tucked back to his head, his knees collapsing beneath him. Sweat beaded at his temple, and his face was tense in agony.
Kurama collapsed against her shoulder, unconscious, and quivering from immense pain.
"K-Kurama?!" Botan stuttered at the fainted boy leaning against her and trembling in pained torment.
"Oh shit!" Hiei blinked in rememberance. "The arrow!"
"Oh no I forgot about that!" Yusuke gasped.
"Kurama!" Keiko gaped.
"What arrow?!" Botan demanded sternly as she coiled her ivory arms around his back.
"Kazuma what do we do?!" Yukina trembled in fear.
"We have to get it out of him!" Hiei growled. "Before it's too late!"
%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%
*Anemone's room...everyone but Hiei has arrived so far...music="farther" by outspoken...Gohan dancing with Videl, Wolfwood dancing with Millie, Krillin dancing with 18, Miroku dancing with Sango, Kenshin dancing with Kaoru, Yusuke dancing with Keiko*
Master Roshi: hey there, Sexy...*tries to grope Anemone*
Kurama: Roshi step away from Anemone!
Anemone: it's okay, Fox...*pulls out bat, hits Roshi upside the head with it* NOW BEHAVE YOURSELF OR YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE AROUND MUCH LONGER!
Master Roshi: *kinda wobbly* yes ma'am...
Goku: *having eaten the entire table to food* hey Mones? Uh, where's the rest of the food?
Anemone: you ate it all?!
ChiChi: and he ate before we left.
Goku: *groaning* so....hungry......
Kurama: *sweatdrop* erm...sorry, Goku, but that was all the food in the house...
Goku: WHAT?! Ah!
Vegeta: oh shut up, you baby...
Goku: *sniffle*
Vash: *gasp* HE ATE ALL THE DONUTS?!
Meryl: you needed to cut down anyway...
Vash: ...but...but...
Megumi: *to Kurama* hey there, Red...wanna dance? *gets a little to close...*
Kurama: erm...*looks frantically for Botan...finds her talking to Yukina* ...no I've got a dance partner...my apologies! *rushes over to Botan and starts dancing with her*
Megumi: *grumble, looks for Sanosuke*
Anemone: now all we need is Flames, Anneliese and Ellen and this party's full...
*door bashes open...Hiei's standing there, hands in pockets, smirking*
Hiei: here's JOHNNY...
Kurama: uh-oh... *ducks behind Botan*
Botan: HI HIEI! *waving a lot, smiling*
Kurama: *whispering* Botan?! What are you doing?!
Botan: huh? I'm saying hello to Hiei...
Hiei: hello, Kurama...*evil smirk*
Kurama: erm...hello Hiei...
Ellen: *follows after Hiei* HI PEOPLE!
Anneliese: *follows after Ellen* HELLO!
Anemone: hey! YAY! Everyone's here! *Kurama runs by, Hiei chasing him with an unsheathed Katana* er...
Mirai Trunks: hey Anemone...wanna dance?
Anemone: SURE! *turns to readers* there's onion dip on the table-
Goku: *coughcough*...*avoiding Anemone's gaze*
Anemone: er...nevermind...Flames!
Hiei: *in hallway...Kurama pinching his Katana blade* what?!
Anemone: say your line!
Hiei: oh...go review...*rips Katana from Kurama's hold and tries to hit him again*
Vash: *goes out into hallway* can't we just all get along? C'mon, brother, love and peace!
Hiei and Kurama: ...
Anemone: *turns to readers* have fun, y'all! This party will go on to the next chapter too *yay*! Bye! *goes to dance with Mirai Trunks*
Kurama: Hiei please! It's a party! Have fun!
Hiei: *pause, blink* fun...? What the hell is fun...?!