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.
Blood. There was blood everywhere. It splattered across the sky and pooled over the earth. It covered her hands and stained her clothes. The world was colored red.
Angel had never been ashamed of killing. She was created to be a killer, a weapon. Killing was the only thing she was meant to do. So she felt nothing as she stood in the middle of battle with bodies lying all around her. She felt no remorse when she ran her sword through someone's heart. She felt no regret when she commanded the plants beneath her to skewer a line of soldiers. And she felt no pain when the water columns she conjured up crushed the bodies of her attackers. It just felt natural to her.
Maybe it's better this way, Angel thought as her body killed yet another person, After all, this is what my purpose in life is.
She relinquished what control she had left and stopped fighting the parasites.
Reaching the silver youko was not as easy as it seemed. Yusuke punched demon after demon, attempting to get close to Angel, but the felled soldiers were soon replaced by their comrades, blocking the way yet again. It seemed Kuwabara and Hiei were having the same problem. Kurama, though for a different reason, was eager to reach the girl but also unable to do so. There were just too many to fight.
Kamishi watched the fighting and bloodshed from behind the lines with perverse amusement. Yes, his soldiers were dying, but that was to be expected in war. As long as Angel was alive and kicking - and oh was she kicking - Kamishi couldn't really care for all the other nameless troops. He just stood back, far away from any actual fighting, and happily oversaw his invasion.
It was Akuma who first noticed the four newcomers. "Sire, we have more company."
The smile on Kamishi's face grew when he saw the new arrivals. He observed their fighting abilities and was rather impressed. They would be difficult to defeat. But not impossible. The king averted his gaze to Angel, who was currently in the process of barbecuing a poor man beneath her feet. //Angel, be a dear and take care of our guests,// he mentally commanded, using his psychic powers over the tiny parasites that controlled the girl's body.
Angel immediately responded to the order, her eyes already locked on her new targets. The closest one happened to be Kuwabara and as soon as she decided on him, she attacked, youki blaring and katana slashing. They met in a clash of swords, Kuwabara's Rei Ken against Angel's version of the Ensatsu Ken.
Kuwabara was by no means a weak man but against someone as genetically enhanced as Angel, he was completely overpowered. He'd barely recovered from the impact of the first attack before the female youko struck again, this time managing to graze his left arm. The human didn't have time to worry about his wound because Angel kept on coming, not pausing for a single moment. Kuwabara knew he wouldn't last for long under such a powerful assault.
Hiei intercepted just as Angel was about to deliver the finishing blow. The ruby-eyed demon parried the strike and pushed her blade away from Kuwabara's body. "Why don't you fight someone of your own caliber?" he said with a little smirk. Turning momentarily to Kuwabara, he added, "Get outta here. You're no match for her." The carrot-top looked as if he was about to protest but then thought against it. He did what he was told and retreated away from the demonic duo.
Now that Hiei was face-to-face with the silver youko, he noticed small details about her. Most unnerving, she showed absolutely no emotion, outward or inward. Even when she was under Hikoku's control, her expressionless mask wasn't perfect; she at least showed something. But now, nothing, not even an indication of confidence.
Angel's empty eyes told Hiei all he needed to know. Her gold orbs were completely different from those of Youko Kurama's. While Kurama's eyes were so full of light and spirit, Angel's were shadowed and lifeless. Hiei knew instantly that she was somehow brainwashed by Kamishi. That knowledge made him a bit uncomfortable with the idea of battling her again. If she had willingly joined the king of Syrona, Hiei would have had no qualms with ending her traitorous life. But now that he knew that she's being manipulated somehow, he felt uneasy.
Che, I'm getting weak, he chided himself, I'm letting emotions control my actions. Hiei readied his weapon and watched as Angel did the same.
From within the confines of her mind, Angel re-ignited her struggle against the parasites. After seeing her black-haired father intercepting the blow for the human, she knew what would inevitably follow. And Angel intended to do everything she could to prevent another battle against the fire demon. However, she could only watch in horror as her body prepared to attack Hiei.
It was a reflection of their previous battle. When they last fought, Hiei was the one doing the attacking, but not this time. Mercilessly, Angel's sword slashed again and again, seeking for an opening. Hiei was caught unaware by her extreme speed but he still managed to block every blow. Still, the fire demon did not like the idea that he was entirely on the defensive. He had to break her rhythm somehow.
Two pairs of eyes watched the battle, one out of entertainment and one out of fear. Kamishi was enjoying every moment of it. The possibility of losing never once crossed his mind. He placed his complete trust in Angel and the Prophecy that accompanied her. Kurama, however, knew that he could very well lose someone important to him: his lover or his daughter, or both. His green eyes followed the two fighters' every move while he silently prayed to whatever god was listening for both of them to survive.
Angel was wincing with every strike her body delivered. She screamed inside her head, her shame growing with each passing minute. I call myself strong, she berated, but I can't even defeat some tiny parasites. Pathetic. Any amount of exertion by her was useless; the parasites did not renounce control. Her mind was simply not experienced enough to win a mental battle.
//Angel!// A familiar voice filled her head, entering not from the outside world but internally.
//Hiei-san?// she cried out. Angel looked out through her eyes and saw that Hiei's Jagan was exposed and glowing. //Hiei-san!//
//Whatever's holding your mind captive,// Hiei's voice said, //you've gotta break free of it.//
//I can't. It's just too strong for me to overcome.// She knew what must be done. //You've got to end this before I kill anymore people.//
//What are you hinting at?// the fire demon asked.
//Kill me,// she answered without pause, //Kill me and Kamishi will retreat. He thinks that I'm his guarantee for a victory. If I die, he'll lose his confidence.//
//No.//
//Why not?// Angel was now confused. //You hate me. Kill me and I'll be out of your life forever, yours and Kurama's.//
//I can't kill my child.// He finally said it. He finally admitted it, to Angel and to himself.
//Hiei-san…//
//Enough of this sappiness!// Kamishi's booming voice echoed throughout her mind. //Do your job and finish him off.//
Again, Angel's body unwillingly obeyed Kamishi's commands. Despite the fact that she fought against it with all her might, her movements were swift and flawless. Her sword was a mere blur to onlookers. Hiei did his best to counter her attacks but most of his concentration was focused on his mind link with the girl. And Angel used his distraction to her full advantage. She saw her opening and thrust her sword forward.
Nooooooooo! With tears flowing down her vacant face, Angel watched as her blade slid through Hiei's chest. Hiei-san! Her anger and grief flowed through her body like liquid fire, traveling up her spine to the very source of Kamishi's authority. The raw power burned away every trace of the parasites. The fire disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Drained of her energy, Angel's body returned to the more human form and then she collapsed.
"NOOOOOOO!"
Kurama's heart shattered the moment that sword entered Hiei's body. His mind instantly shut down and relinquished control to his anger and hate. With youki growing exponentially, he walked towards Kamishi. His body shimmered and Kurama transformed into his more powerful youko form. The grasses on the battlefield grew sharp and bolted towards the sky, skewering every demon, and some of the Reikai soldiers, within a twenty-foot radius. Blood and gore spattered on his clothes but he didn't care. His golden eyes were secured on the king of Syrona.
Kamishi knew when to retreat and now was definitely the time. "Akuma, I'm leaving the youko to you," he said as he turned tail and ran. He didn't get far, however, as the plant life immediately surrounded his fleeing figure and enclosed around him. Akuma's bloodcurdling scream turned his attention back to the menacing youko just in time to see Kurama's Rose Whip cut into her body. Within a second, the shape-shifter was reduced to a stump and a pile of dislocated arms and legs. Akuma was still alive but Kamishi was sure that she was wishing that the whip had killed her.
Finished with the lackey, Kurama continued to advance towards Kamishi. His silver bangs covered part of his eyes but even a blind man could tell that he was out to kill. And it wasn't going to be quick or painless. As the youko neared his target, he reached into his hair and found the appropriate seed.
"Look, can't we talk this out?" Kamishi stalled, "You've already caught me. I'll go willingly to the Reikai and accept my punishment."
His pleading went unheard. Kurama threw the seed at Kamishi's feet and fused his youki into it to make it grow. The seed grew into a beautiful flower with blood-red petals and wiggling tendrils. It was the Vampire flower, the same plant that Angel used one year ago at Hikoku's stronghold. The tendrils wrapped themselves around Kamishi's trembling body and brought him towards the sharp, jagged teeth on the innermost petals. His screams traveled to the heavens as his body was ground into little, tiny pieces and his blood was drained into the stem. After several agonizing minutes, his life-force finally gave out and his soul drifted towards the Reikai where he would be judged and condemned.
After reducing the bloodthirsty flower back into a seed, Kurama quickly ran back to his lover's side. His hair changed from silver to red as he transformed back into his Shuichi aspect. He reached the fallen fire demon in less than five seconds, tears already falling from his emerald orbs. Kurama was afraid to see what he already knew in his heart: Hiei was dying.
Blood flowed freely from the open wound on his chest. The sword had missed the heart but the cut was still deep enough to do plenty of damage. Hiei's body was growing cold already from the blood loss. Without a healer near, he was sure to die.
A cool hand slowly reached up and wiped the trail of tears from Kurama's face. Hiei looked into those sad eyes with love. "Don't cry, Kurama. A face as beautiful as yours should never be marred with tears."
Hearing those words, the redhead wept even harder.
"Kurama, promise me you won't do something foolish after my death. Promise that you'll live on happily until you're ready to leave the world of the living."
Kurama gave a sad little smile. "What are you talking about, Hiei?" he said with a choked sob, "You're not going to die for a long time. We're going to live our lives out together with our daughter. And once we're ready, we'll leave this world together." He was delusional and he knew it, but the human-youko was not ready to accept the truth yet.
A soft blue glow caught the despairing redhead's attention. In all his grief, Kurama had forgotten about the collapsed body of Angel. Now his daughter was conscious and placing her hands over Hiei's wound, bathing his lover's form in a warm healing light. Slowly but surely, the flow of blood stopped and the gash started to close. Kurama could tell that the process was taxing and taking its toll out on Angel. Her youki was already low and now she was expending what's left of it to save Hiei's life. To lessen her burden, the fox began to fuse his own youki into Hiei, restoring the fire demon's depleted supply.
Angel collapsed again a minute later, her energy dangerously low but not fatal. Luckily, the wound was completely healed. All that was left was a faint scar that would eventually fade away. Before she succumbed to the sanctuary of sleep, Angel felt a pair of warm lips gently touch her forehead. Her own lips curved into a perceivable smile before she fell into unconsciousness.
The fight's sorta rushed and crappy, but I suck at writing fight scene's so you'll have to deal with it. This is the last official chapter but there's an epilogue coming soon that'll tie everything up. Please review! The more reviews I get, the faster I'll put up the epilogue. Thank you!
