by: Kawaii Kitsune
Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho and all the characters in the wonderful show do not belong to me, blah, blah, blah. You get the point. No money, don't sue, blah, blah, blah. Moving on.
Note: italics indicate thoughts. // indicate telepathy.
"Get in there and keep quiet." The metal door of the dungeon cell slammed shut with a loud bang, trapping Kurama and Hiei inside.
"Looks like we're stuck here for a while," said Kurama as he sat down on the stone slab that stuck out of the wall. He took a glance around the rest of the cell and observed his surroundings. Shackles and binds hung on the walls. The floor was littered with bones and covered with the blood of its previous occupants. The only source of light into the tiny chamber was a small barred window. And of course, it wasn't a true dungeon without the number of wards placed at the entrance of the cell.
"That's not all," Hiei added, "We're being watched." The fire demon gestured with a slight nod at the hawk-like bird perched across from their cell opening. Its eyes glowed an eerie green.
"A Beholder, eh?" Kurama observed, "This Kamishi certainly keeps an eye on its prisoners. Guess we can't try anything drastic with that bird watching us."
"Hn."
Angel watched Kurama and Hiei through the eyes of the Beholder with self-hatred. They're imprisoned because of me and my stupid weaknesses. She clenched her fist tightly to fight down her anger and regret, drawing blood from the nails digging into her palm.
"As you can see, the two of them are perfectly safe within my dungeon," Kamishi said as he gestured to the images displayed on the wall before them, "And if you cooperate with me, they'll remain safe."
"I want them released," demanded Angel.
Kamishi raised an eyebrow at the command. "I don't think you're in the position to be making any orders, my dear," he replied.
"Release them and vow that you'll never harm them, and I will abide to your every wish. Keep them imprisoned, and I swear I will do everything within my power to bring destruction, not greatness, to your little kingdom."
"Hm...an interesting proposition. But right now, I hold all the cards. What makes you think I'll be willing to take such a gamble as releasing my only power over you?"
"You already have me within your grasps, don't you? Why keep them locked up?" asked the girl, "I know you won't kill them."
"Don't be so sure of your assumptions."
"If you killed them, there would be nothing stopping me from going after your blood," Angel said in an icy tone.
"So you say you'll follow my every command if I free them..." He received a nod of affirmation from Angel. Little do you know how true that statement is. "Very well. If I have you, there's no reason to clutter my dungeon with those two." Kamishi then turned to Akuma. "Dispatch some guards to free the prisoners and provide safe passage out of the kingdom." //And kill them as soon as they're out of the Beholder's sight. They are no longer useful to me,// he added through a telepathic message.
"Yes, sire." The shape-shifter bowed and left.
"Now, let's discuss the terms of your side of the agreement," Kamishi said with a devious smirk.
Hiei turned his head at the sound of footsteps closing in on their cell. He narrowed his eyes when he saw a dozen armed guards led by Akuma walking towards them. "What do you want?"
"I have orders from my lord to release the two of you," answered the female demon.
"And why would he do that?" barked Hiei.
"In exchange for your freedom, we receive the complete servitude of your Angel."
"Like hell you will." This time, Kurama spoke.
"I'm afraid you don't have a say in the matter," Akuma stated matter-of-factly, "It has already been agreed upon between my lord and Evangeline. Now be a good bargaining chip and do as you're told."
The wards were deactivated and the barred doors to the chamber were opened. Hiei exited first, carefully watching the moves of every guard. Kurama followed closely behind his lover. They were led to a set of stairs leading upwards. Half a dozen guards walked in front to them and the rest brought up the rear behind the two. The stairs led to a steel door, which opened to reveal a darkly-lit room. Inside the room were instruments of torture and destruction. The air stank of blood and death. They had entered the execution chamber.
"This is the end of the line for you two," Akuma said, "I'll leave them to play with you." She left the room and locked the door behind her.
The guards pounced.
Without his sword, Hiei could only dodge from the onslaught of attacks. He maneuvered quite easily in the confined space of the chamber. His enemies, however, were having trouble keeping after him. The fire demon used that to his advantage. When one of his attackers failed once again to land a hit with his sword, Hiei kicked sharply up, striking the opposing demon hard on the chin. The sword left the wounded guard's hands and was caught by the jaganshi. He then proceeded to cut down his enemies like weeds, showing no mercy. It was only in two minutes. After they were all sliced into pieces, Hiei glanced over at Kurama.
The redhead was surrounded on all sides by demons. He only smiled and reached behind to take out a familiar seed. The seed grew into a perfect rose, which then extended into the rose whip that Kurama's so fond of. With a flick of his wrist, the fox finished off all of the guards before they could even move to attack. He looked over to see Hiei smirking at him. "You'd think that Kamishi would have sent more challenging demons to fight us," Kurama said playfully with a grin. His grin soon vanished, replaced by a serious look. "We need to find Angel."
"Satisfied?" Kamishi asked Angel as the projection on the wall faded, "They've been released, as promised."
Angel turned away from the wall and studied Kamishi's face. His expression showed nothing so she was unable to discern whether he spoke the truth or not. She was about to answer when a sharp pain spread throughout her body, sending her to her knees gasping for breath. Not again...not again! "Where's the cure?" she demanded through clenched teeth.
Kamishi stood by and watched with an amused look on his face. "Cure?"
"Of course," Angel spoke bitterly, "There is no cure. It was all a lie to get me here."
"Naturally, my dear."
The girl struggled to stand but somehow managed. "And my inevitable death?"
"A lie," the king answered without a second thought. "Your powers are battling each other for dominance which, according to the scientists that created you, are perfectly normal at this stage of your existence. The abilities you have received did not come without a price. Soon the conflicting powers inside of you will realize that none of them can dominate. They will then coexist inside of you peacefully just like before." He strolled over to his throne and took something from behind it. It looked like a collar of some sort, simple and black with a golden buckle. Kamishi walked back towards Angel with the collar. "To begin our new 'partnership,' I request that you wear this collar as a symbol of you allegiance to me," he said as he held up the collar for the girl to see.
Angel stared at the object in front of her with uncertainty. To put on the collar was to subject herself to the humiliation of being another's servant, another's pet. To reject the collar was to break their agreement, bring danger once again upon Kurama and Hiei. She couldn't allow them to get hurt on her account anymore. I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you. Angel reached for the collar and took it from Kamishi's hands. She placed it around her neck with the buckle facing forward. Perhaps with this I can keep you safe.
After picking the lock on the door, Kurama and Hiei silently escaped from the execution chamber and made their way back down the stairs into the dungeon. They carefully scanned the area for the Beholder and after finding no trace of it, the duo advanced onward.
The doors leading out of the dungeon were guarded. The pair of soldiers standing outside the entrance seemed to be dozing off. They were easy pickings for Hiei's sword. The two then started to run down the corridor to the left of the doors, following traces of Angel's youki. It was a risky way to find the girl. In order to trace a youkai's ki, one must use ki as well, meaning Kurama and Hiei could easily be detected. The two of them didn't get far before soldiers, numerous and armed, started to rush towards them.
They took on their attackers head-on. Hiei slashed viciously, killing demon after demon. He stuck his sword deep into the chest of one soldier and then jumped over the dead body to behead the youkai behind him. Kurama lashed out his whip once again and snapped it into action. The soldiers could only get within five feet of the fox before they were sliced into pieces by the piercing thorns. After finishing with the pathetic band of youkai, they continued their search for Angel, only to be attacked by another group of Kamishi's soldiers.
"We can't keep this up forever," Hiei said after he finished off the third group that had assaulted them.
"I know," Kurama replied, "But we can't leave her here."
"You think we'll do her much good if we're captured again?" Hiei asked, "Or worse, if we're dead?"
Kurama didn't answer.
"We're both tiring," Hiei simply stated, "If we stopped now, we can still escape."
"Hiei, I won't leave her here."
"So you'd rather die?"
Any further arguments were postponed by yet another troop of soldiers, this time larger than the previous ones. The leader of the pack wielded a gigantic spiked club. He swung it towards Kurama who jumped out of the way just in time. The club hit the wall besides where the fox was standing and knocked out a large section of solid stone. The resulting hole revealed the hazy sky of the Makai.
Hiei saw that as the means of escape.
Before anyone could react, the fire demon grabbed Kurama around the waist and jumped out the hole. They seemed to be two floors up so the drop was not that drastic. As soon as they landed, Hiei broke into a sprint, dragging the still disoriented fox with him. He stole a glance back towards the castle to see if anyone followed. No one was in sight. Hiei continued running.
Akuma shifted uncomfortably before she entered the throne room. Unfortunately, as the second-in-command, she had to deliver the unhappy news to her lord. She slowly walked towards Kamishi and Angel. The shape-shifter noticed the collar around Angel's neck and smiled. Maybe he won't be so disappointed with the news after all.
"Well? Has your task been carried out?" Kamishi asked.
"I'm sorry, sire," Akuma answered, "They've escaped."
"What do you mean 'escaped'?" demanded Angel, "Were they not released as promised?"
"You didn't honestly think I would just let them get away alive, did you?" he said with a laugh, "Sadly, they managed to escape. An unforeseen annoyance." Kamishi simply waved it off. "After all, I have you under my total command. The parasites should have attached themselves fully to you by now."
"Parasites?" Angel questioned, "What paras-" An intense shock suddenly swept through her spine and up her nervous system. She felt herself losing control of her thoughts and actions. Her vision was blurring and her hearing was muffled. What's happening? It feels just like...
"The collar that graces your neck was covered with microscopic parasites that attach themselves to the wearer's nervous system, taking hold of the mind, and through that, the body. You are completely mine now."
No, not again. It's just like Hikoku and his circlet. I can't go through that mindless control again. I just can't! She struggled for dominance but she was not strong enough to fight the creatures that have fastened themselves to her so securely. Her mind blanked and she fell into a never-ending darkness.
Sorry this chapter took so long. I had some writer's block. Only 4 more chaps to go...hopefully.
