*Crawls out from under couch in camouflage. *
Cheeto: No flames in sight!
Little pile of soot that used to be Sensei: *cough cough* speak for yourself.
*Cheeto creeps over to computer and puts a tree next to* HA! Now you can't see me!
*Tree bursts into flames.*
Cheeto: eep!
Ok, first things first: I don't own anything. HAVEN'T I SAID IT ENOUGH FOR YOU PEOPLE?!
Second things first: It's very nice to know that many of you care enough about Kurama and my story to flame the heck out of me!
Third thing: I'm watching Grease. John Travolta is HOT!
Fourth thing:
Nah, you can figure it out.
So here is the next chap:
*~Chapter Fifteen~*
Botan let out an earth shattering scream as the energy tore into Kurama, the sheer momentum sending him plowing into the dirt. He slid about twenty feet and stopped, unmoving.
"Kurama!" Yusuke cried and tried to get to his feet, but fell back down with a sharp cry.
Botan was frozen in her tracks, unable to go to the fallen fox. *I can't look.* she though, clutching her face as tears cascaded from her eyes. *Oh Kami, I can't look.*
"Kurama!" Shippo cried, fighting to get out of Kagome's arm. "No! He can't be dead! No, let me go!" He hollered, Kagome holding him closer as she turned away, tears threatening to spill over.
*I can't take another friend to the spirit world.* Her mind cried, somehow believing that if she didn't look, he wouldn't be dead. If she didn't look, she could keep denying it all. He would be alive.
*But what if . .*
*What if he isn't . . .?* Botan took a hesitant step toward her fallen friend, and broke into a run.
*I can't bear to look*
*But I have to know.*
She stopped a few feet away.
The kitsune was sprawled on his side, silver tresses masking his features. Blood pooled around his still figure, growing larger by the second.
Blood.
So much blood.
Botan's eyes widened and she took another step forward.
But . . .the dead . . .
The dead don't bleed.
"He's . .he's still alive." Though her voice came out almost in a whisper, the others could hear her as if she had been screaming. Kagome released Shippo in shock, and he bound for the elder fox on all fours.
Botan quickly dropped down next to him. Pulling the fox into her arms, she rocked him gently as tears fell anew. His eyes were half lidded and glazed, blood sliding from his parted lips, his flesh deathly pale. A huge gash ran down his chest, almost cutting him in half.
The single slash had split into five as the energy erupted from his back, shattered ribs jutting out from under the skin. Botan pressed a hand to the huge gash, her Ki flowing into the wound as blood surged up between her fingers.
But she could feel it. His heart was still beating, but it was beginning to still beneath her hand.
*No, I'm not trained to heal wounds like this.* The ferry girl was making little impact, but she had to keep trying. *I have to help him, even if it kills me!* But there was so much blood, too much. The life-giving liquid had already soaked through his clothes and was saturating hers, her hands already covered in crimson.
"Hold on Kurama!" she cried, "Please, you have to . ." His breath came in haggard gasps as he coughed up blood, trying weakly to clear the substance as it filled his ruined lungs.
"Is he going to be okay?!" Shippo cried as he ran up to the two. Botan tried to answer, but her voice caught in her throat. The blast had spared him an instant, painless death, but instead delivered him into fate's cruel hands. Now he was bleeding to death, drowning in it as it gushed from his body with each feeble beat of his devastated heart.
Inuyasha, meanwhile, had landed a few feet away, watching the scene numbly. His sword, which had changed back on impact, dropped from his limp fingers.
The grey wisp slid from Kurama's lips, headed straight for Inuyasha. Sudden rage blinded him. "You BASTARD!" he yelled, his nails glowing bright yellow. "Iron reaver!" The energy tore through the mist, demolishing it on impact.
"Yukina, can you do anything?" Yusuke asked, his voice shaking. The ice apparition shook her head, small stones dropping to the ground as she clutched her brother tighter. "Botan's powers are as good as mine. I can't do anything she can't."
"Wait!" Kagome yelped, turning to the girl. "Give me your hand." Puzzled, Yukina lifted a hand and held it out to her. Kagome pushed her nail under the ice demon's skin and removed the bright pink shard, standing up and sprinting to Botan.
"Here!" Kagome said as she dropped down next to them. "Put this in his back." Botan looked up at her questionably.
"It'll keep him alive." She nodded and took the shard, pressing it into the fox's back. He cried out in pain and shuddered, then stilled, relaxing from his painful tension. Botan felt his pulse steady and he began to breathe deeper as the blood flow slowed to a trickle.
Botan looked up at the other girl, tears sliding down her cheeks, unable to express her gratitude. Kagome smiled and nodded, then turned to the dog demon.
"Go get him, Inuyasha." He nodded and smirked.
"Right." He strode over to the cursing detective and helped him to his feet, slinging one of the boys arms over his shoulder.
"Can you walk?"
"Come on, I've got a few holes in me and a broken arm. What do ya take me for, a wimp?" Inuyasha smirked and released him. Yusuke swayed for a moment and straightened, one hand clutching his limp arm as a rush of blood escaped the various puncture wounds.
"KETSUEKI!" Yusuke roared. "Get down here and fight me you BASTARD!" Inuyasha drew his sword once again.
"You aint fightin' without me, Urameshi." Kuwabara muttered as he stood and almost fell over. Yusuke turned back and smirked.
"You fought enough, Kuwabara. Let me take care of this."
"Yeah right!" The other punk yelled, "I want this guy just as bad as you do! And you can't even shoot your gun!" He called upon the double swords. "See, I got plenty of energy left; let the real team leader take care of this one!"
Yusuke face faulted. "Right."
"Sorry to break up this touching moment." Ketsueki said, "But I do believe you called me a bastard."
"Yeah," Inuyasha spat, "He wasn't too far off mark."
Ketsueki smirked. "Now, aren't we just graced with a spark of wit." He looked over to the fox, then to unconscious Hiei and his sister.
"Anshin was a fool. Though, I at least expected him to kill the humans. Well, he got me out of that damned cell, I guess that's the point." He smiled comically. "But back to the original conversation, you seem to have forgotten one thing-" He disappeared, then reappeared a few feet away. A few seconds later, he was back in his original position.
"I've got the girl." Yusuke's eyes widened.
"Keiko." She was clutched against the demon, one of his hands holding hers behind her back, the other clasped over her mouth. She stared at Yusuke pleadingly, tears streaking down her face.
"She's quite lovely." Ketsueki cooed, pressing his pale cheek against hers, turning his face sideways to kiss her cheek lightly. "I enjoyed her company very much. Though I think she may not return those feelings."
"Get your hands off her." He hissed, his spirit energy beginning to appear in plain sight, licking his body like blue flames.
"Oh, got you angry now, did I?" he looked at Inuyasha.
"But I am curious to how you are involved in this, half-breed. What do you gain from killing me?"
"Not much." He growled, "But guys that hide behind girls tend to piss me off." Ketsueki smiled.
"Now, now. Who says there is a reason to hide? I could kill you so simply." He sighed exaggeratedly, "It's almost sad, actually."
"Stop running your mouth and lets see it!" Kuwabara yelled, causing their opponent to grin harder.
"Oh, only if you insist! But I have been waiting so long for you to show up . ." Frowning, he shook his head. "But I guess it would be rude for you not to allow me to make the first move. Must be sportsmen like, mustn't we?"
"Shut up!" Kuwabara yelled, racing towards him. He cast Keiko aside and grinned.
"What, can't understand the big words?" Kuwabara roared charged the demon, swords swinging like a maniac. Ketsueki faded back and vanished, reappearing behind the boy.
"Missed." He murmured next to his ear, and vanished again.
Yusuke ran up to Keiko, grabbing her with his one good arm. "You alright?!" She nodded, seeming to have gone into shock, unable to answer.
"Your arm . ." she stuttered.
"Nothing I can't handle. Now get over to Yukina and Botan." When she didn't move, he dragged her to her feet. "Now! Go!" She nodded and ran off, Yusuke letting out a sigh of relief.
*At least she's safe.*
Kuwabara swung wildly at the time apparition faded in and out of his vision. Kuwabara grinned, calculating his next move.
"Ha!" he yelled and jumped into the air, bringing his swords down. Ketsueki grinned and his hand shot up, wrapping around Kuwabara's face.
"You know, you remind me of a cockroach. You just won't seem to die." Ketsueki beamed, "I guess we shall have to fix that."
Black waves began to wash over the struggling boy, and soon his swords disappeared. His hair faded into white, and his hands dropped down to his sides.
"There. Not dead, but close enough." Ketsueki threw the boy back and he hit the ground hard, skidding back in his stomach. The punk grunted and struggled to get up.
"Kuwabara!" Yusuke yelled. His face was wrinkled as if fifty years had just gone by, liver spots dotting his skin and his receding hair line. He moaned and Ketsueki came up and kicked him in the stomach, sending the boy flying.
"Old bones are always so fragile. Just one little kick, and 'snap'!" He smiled, "This power has such advantages, it's almost ridiculous that you could even think you could win against me!"
"Kazuma!" Yukina cried, wanting to go to him, but not wanting to leave her brother.
"Man, you are really starting to piss me off!" Inuyasha yelled and charged him, swinging his blade nearly as blindly as Kuwabara had been. "Girls, old people, what the hell kind of man are you?!"
Ketsueki smiled, Inuyasha was having even less luck than Kuwabara. "Catch me if you can." Ketsueki said in a sing song voice.
Yusuke watched in utter anger. *Dammit, I can't do anything! Kurama, er that thing possessing him, broke my trigger arm! I can't even fight! Only one thing to do . . .* He took the broken bone in his good hand, and began to bend it back.
Inuyasha turned to look at the screaming Yusuke as he bent his arm back into place. "What the heck is wrong with you?!"
"IT HURTS DAMMIT!" he yelled back, "Now concentrate on the fight you moron!" Inuyasha turned just to get nailed in the stomach. He flew back, sliding back a few feet through the dirt.
"I have a feeling you aren't taking me seriously." Ketsueki grinned.
"Maybe it's time to show you my true power." He raised his hands, black energy cackling around him as he swirled his hands in a circle.
"Sands of . ."
"SPIRIT GUN!" Yusuke yelled from behind the demon, a huge burst of blue energy shooting towards him. Ketsueki watched it in wonder as it burst through his chest.
"Yes!" Yusuke yelled, wincing as pain jolted through his sloppily recast arm. "Direct hit!"
Ketsueki looked through the huge hole in his stomach to a shocked Inuyasha behind him. He frowned.
The wound disappeared.
"What?!" Yusuke cried, backing away. How did he-?!
"You really think I'd be killed that easily, Yusuke." His voice had lost its sarcastic mirth, and now his eyes where glowing black. "How dare you mock me. Time heals all wounds Yusuke, remember that."
Black energy burst from his body, enveloping the land. "Sands of time!"
Cheeto: ooh, cliffe!! Oh, and just to let you know, Anshin is the Japanese word for 'peace of mind.' Kind of an oxymoron, ne?
Sensei: Emphasis on the 'moron.'
Cheeto: Shut up!! *kicks* Anyways, aren't you happy Kurama is alive? I mean, ok, I'm evil, but I'm not THAT evil!
Sensei: *cough* Liar *cough*
Cheeto: yeah, your right, I'm going to make him die in another one of my stories! ^-^
Sensei: x.X
Cheeto: Almost forgot:
TWO HUNDRED!!!!! OMG!!!! OMG!!!!! OMG!!!!!
*Dies*
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS!!!!!!
THANK YOU!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! WEEEEEE!!!
*happy dances self to death*
Sensei: x.x Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheeto: No flames in sight!
Little pile of soot that used to be Sensei: *cough cough* speak for yourself.
*Cheeto creeps over to computer and puts a tree next to* HA! Now you can't see me!
*Tree bursts into flames.*
Cheeto: eep!
Ok, first things first: I don't own anything. HAVEN'T I SAID IT ENOUGH FOR YOU PEOPLE?!
Second things first: It's very nice to know that many of you care enough about Kurama and my story to flame the heck out of me!
Third thing: I'm watching Grease. John Travolta is HOT!
Fourth thing:
Nah, you can figure it out.
So here is the next chap:
*~Chapter Fifteen~*
Botan let out an earth shattering scream as the energy tore into Kurama, the sheer momentum sending him plowing into the dirt. He slid about twenty feet and stopped, unmoving.
"Kurama!" Yusuke cried and tried to get to his feet, but fell back down with a sharp cry.
Botan was frozen in her tracks, unable to go to the fallen fox. *I can't look.* she though, clutching her face as tears cascaded from her eyes. *Oh Kami, I can't look.*
"Kurama!" Shippo cried, fighting to get out of Kagome's arm. "No! He can't be dead! No, let me go!" He hollered, Kagome holding him closer as she turned away, tears threatening to spill over.
*I can't take another friend to the spirit world.* Her mind cried, somehow believing that if she didn't look, he wouldn't be dead. If she didn't look, she could keep denying it all. He would be alive.
*But what if . .*
*What if he isn't . . .?* Botan took a hesitant step toward her fallen friend, and broke into a run.
*I can't bear to look*
*But I have to know.*
She stopped a few feet away.
The kitsune was sprawled on his side, silver tresses masking his features. Blood pooled around his still figure, growing larger by the second.
Blood.
So much blood.
Botan's eyes widened and she took another step forward.
But . . .the dead . . .
The dead don't bleed.
"He's . .he's still alive." Though her voice came out almost in a whisper, the others could hear her as if she had been screaming. Kagome released Shippo in shock, and he bound for the elder fox on all fours.
Botan quickly dropped down next to him. Pulling the fox into her arms, she rocked him gently as tears fell anew. His eyes were half lidded and glazed, blood sliding from his parted lips, his flesh deathly pale. A huge gash ran down his chest, almost cutting him in half.
The single slash had split into five as the energy erupted from his back, shattered ribs jutting out from under the skin. Botan pressed a hand to the huge gash, her Ki flowing into the wound as blood surged up between her fingers.
But she could feel it. His heart was still beating, but it was beginning to still beneath her hand.
*No, I'm not trained to heal wounds like this.* The ferry girl was making little impact, but she had to keep trying. *I have to help him, even if it kills me!* But there was so much blood, too much. The life-giving liquid had already soaked through his clothes and was saturating hers, her hands already covered in crimson.
"Hold on Kurama!" she cried, "Please, you have to . ." His breath came in haggard gasps as he coughed up blood, trying weakly to clear the substance as it filled his ruined lungs.
"Is he going to be okay?!" Shippo cried as he ran up to the two. Botan tried to answer, but her voice caught in her throat. The blast had spared him an instant, painless death, but instead delivered him into fate's cruel hands. Now he was bleeding to death, drowning in it as it gushed from his body with each feeble beat of his devastated heart.
Inuyasha, meanwhile, had landed a few feet away, watching the scene numbly. His sword, which had changed back on impact, dropped from his limp fingers.
The grey wisp slid from Kurama's lips, headed straight for Inuyasha. Sudden rage blinded him. "You BASTARD!" he yelled, his nails glowing bright yellow. "Iron reaver!" The energy tore through the mist, demolishing it on impact.
"Yukina, can you do anything?" Yusuke asked, his voice shaking. The ice apparition shook her head, small stones dropping to the ground as she clutched her brother tighter. "Botan's powers are as good as mine. I can't do anything she can't."
"Wait!" Kagome yelped, turning to the girl. "Give me your hand." Puzzled, Yukina lifted a hand and held it out to her. Kagome pushed her nail under the ice demon's skin and removed the bright pink shard, standing up and sprinting to Botan.
"Here!" Kagome said as she dropped down next to them. "Put this in his back." Botan looked up at her questionably.
"It'll keep him alive." She nodded and took the shard, pressing it into the fox's back. He cried out in pain and shuddered, then stilled, relaxing from his painful tension. Botan felt his pulse steady and he began to breathe deeper as the blood flow slowed to a trickle.
Botan looked up at the other girl, tears sliding down her cheeks, unable to express her gratitude. Kagome smiled and nodded, then turned to the dog demon.
"Go get him, Inuyasha." He nodded and smirked.
"Right." He strode over to the cursing detective and helped him to his feet, slinging one of the boys arms over his shoulder.
"Can you walk?"
"Come on, I've got a few holes in me and a broken arm. What do ya take me for, a wimp?" Inuyasha smirked and released him. Yusuke swayed for a moment and straightened, one hand clutching his limp arm as a rush of blood escaped the various puncture wounds.
"KETSUEKI!" Yusuke roared. "Get down here and fight me you BASTARD!" Inuyasha drew his sword once again.
"You aint fightin' without me, Urameshi." Kuwabara muttered as he stood and almost fell over. Yusuke turned back and smirked.
"You fought enough, Kuwabara. Let me take care of this."
"Yeah right!" The other punk yelled, "I want this guy just as bad as you do! And you can't even shoot your gun!" He called upon the double swords. "See, I got plenty of energy left; let the real team leader take care of this one!"
Yusuke face faulted. "Right."
"Sorry to break up this touching moment." Ketsueki said, "But I do believe you called me a bastard."
"Yeah," Inuyasha spat, "He wasn't too far off mark."
Ketsueki smirked. "Now, aren't we just graced with a spark of wit." He looked over to the fox, then to unconscious Hiei and his sister.
"Anshin was a fool. Though, I at least expected him to kill the humans. Well, he got me out of that damned cell, I guess that's the point." He smiled comically. "But back to the original conversation, you seem to have forgotten one thing-" He disappeared, then reappeared a few feet away. A few seconds later, he was back in his original position.
"I've got the girl." Yusuke's eyes widened.
"Keiko." She was clutched against the demon, one of his hands holding hers behind her back, the other clasped over her mouth. She stared at Yusuke pleadingly, tears streaking down her face.
"She's quite lovely." Ketsueki cooed, pressing his pale cheek against hers, turning his face sideways to kiss her cheek lightly. "I enjoyed her company very much. Though I think she may not return those feelings."
"Get your hands off her." He hissed, his spirit energy beginning to appear in plain sight, licking his body like blue flames.
"Oh, got you angry now, did I?" he looked at Inuyasha.
"But I am curious to how you are involved in this, half-breed. What do you gain from killing me?"
"Not much." He growled, "But guys that hide behind girls tend to piss me off." Ketsueki smiled.
"Now, now. Who says there is a reason to hide? I could kill you so simply." He sighed exaggeratedly, "It's almost sad, actually."
"Stop running your mouth and lets see it!" Kuwabara yelled, causing their opponent to grin harder.
"Oh, only if you insist! But I have been waiting so long for you to show up . ." Frowning, he shook his head. "But I guess it would be rude for you not to allow me to make the first move. Must be sportsmen like, mustn't we?"
"Shut up!" Kuwabara yelled, racing towards him. He cast Keiko aside and grinned.
"What, can't understand the big words?" Kuwabara roared charged the demon, swords swinging like a maniac. Ketsueki faded back and vanished, reappearing behind the boy.
"Missed." He murmured next to his ear, and vanished again.
Yusuke ran up to Keiko, grabbing her with his one good arm. "You alright?!" She nodded, seeming to have gone into shock, unable to answer.
"Your arm . ." she stuttered.
"Nothing I can't handle. Now get over to Yukina and Botan." When she didn't move, he dragged her to her feet. "Now! Go!" She nodded and ran off, Yusuke letting out a sigh of relief.
*At least she's safe.*
Kuwabara swung wildly at the time apparition faded in and out of his vision. Kuwabara grinned, calculating his next move.
"Ha!" he yelled and jumped into the air, bringing his swords down. Ketsueki grinned and his hand shot up, wrapping around Kuwabara's face.
"You know, you remind me of a cockroach. You just won't seem to die." Ketsueki beamed, "I guess we shall have to fix that."
Black waves began to wash over the struggling boy, and soon his swords disappeared. His hair faded into white, and his hands dropped down to his sides.
"There. Not dead, but close enough." Ketsueki threw the boy back and he hit the ground hard, skidding back in his stomach. The punk grunted and struggled to get up.
"Kuwabara!" Yusuke yelled. His face was wrinkled as if fifty years had just gone by, liver spots dotting his skin and his receding hair line. He moaned and Ketsueki came up and kicked him in the stomach, sending the boy flying.
"Old bones are always so fragile. Just one little kick, and 'snap'!" He smiled, "This power has such advantages, it's almost ridiculous that you could even think you could win against me!"
"Kazuma!" Yukina cried, wanting to go to him, but not wanting to leave her brother.
"Man, you are really starting to piss me off!" Inuyasha yelled and charged him, swinging his blade nearly as blindly as Kuwabara had been. "Girls, old people, what the hell kind of man are you?!"
Ketsueki smiled, Inuyasha was having even less luck than Kuwabara. "Catch me if you can." Ketsueki said in a sing song voice.
Yusuke watched in utter anger. *Dammit, I can't do anything! Kurama, er that thing possessing him, broke my trigger arm! I can't even fight! Only one thing to do . . .* He took the broken bone in his good hand, and began to bend it back.
Inuyasha turned to look at the screaming Yusuke as he bent his arm back into place. "What the heck is wrong with you?!"
"IT HURTS DAMMIT!" he yelled back, "Now concentrate on the fight you moron!" Inuyasha turned just to get nailed in the stomach. He flew back, sliding back a few feet through the dirt.
"I have a feeling you aren't taking me seriously." Ketsueki grinned.
"Maybe it's time to show you my true power." He raised his hands, black energy cackling around him as he swirled his hands in a circle.
"Sands of . ."
"SPIRIT GUN!" Yusuke yelled from behind the demon, a huge burst of blue energy shooting towards him. Ketsueki watched it in wonder as it burst through his chest.
"Yes!" Yusuke yelled, wincing as pain jolted through his sloppily recast arm. "Direct hit!"
Ketsueki looked through the huge hole in his stomach to a shocked Inuyasha behind him. He frowned.
The wound disappeared.
"What?!" Yusuke cried, backing away. How did he-?!
"You really think I'd be killed that easily, Yusuke." His voice had lost its sarcastic mirth, and now his eyes where glowing black. "How dare you mock me. Time heals all wounds Yusuke, remember that."
Black energy burst from his body, enveloping the land. "Sands of time!"
Cheeto: ooh, cliffe!! Oh, and just to let you know, Anshin is the Japanese word for 'peace of mind.' Kind of an oxymoron, ne?
Sensei: Emphasis on the 'moron.'
Cheeto: Shut up!! *kicks* Anyways, aren't you happy Kurama is alive? I mean, ok, I'm evil, but I'm not THAT evil!
Sensei: *cough* Liar *cough*
Cheeto: yeah, your right, I'm going to make him die in another one of my stories! ^-^
Sensei: x.X
Cheeto: Almost forgot:
TWO HUNDRED!!!!! OMG!!!! OMG!!!!! OMG!!!!!
*Dies*
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS!!!!!!
THANK YOU!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! WEEEEEE!!!
*happy dances self to death*
Sensei: x.x Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!