I sat in my little cage, shivering and waiting for quick death to come to
Kurama. I knew there was most likely no way to stop this…whatever he was,
most likely some strange demon or other. I wondered that I'd never heard of
him before, and I was almost sure Kurama would have told me if he
knew—almost.
The screen popped up and it showed a large empty room. I looked closer and saw two figures, one at each end of the room. I recognized the white hair as Kurama's, and then saw the black hair. Karasu. I gulped and tried to close my eyes. They didn't obey me, staying open and fixated on the screen. I resigned myself to watching my best friend die a horrible death, but I was resolved to take it out with that bastard later.
The two figures advanced and the screen zoomed closer, going first to Kurama's calm face, and then to Karasu's. I knew Kurama well enough to see through the calm mask, he was obviously worried—but about what I couldn't tell—and angry. This surprised me- I'd never seen him angry. I decided that I wouldn't ever want to get on his bad side. Karasu's face remained a mystery to me, and I was glad for that small blessing; I was convinced I didn't want to know what went on in the mind of that killer.
They stopped about twenty feet apart and exchanged a few words. I frowned, why were they talking? They were supposed to be fighting! Although, I supposed, it would probably be better to delay my friends' death with conversation…but that wasn't a Kurama thing to do. I waited for them to finish impatiently; I almost wished it was over already. Obviously, someone up there didn't like me, because they talked for a while longer, and as time went on, my stomach cramped up even more. Finally, they stopped talking, and the fight began.
Kurama bowed formally to Karasu, who merely saluted, with a smirk on his face. I growled, that idgit could at least show some respect to the person—or demon—who I hoped would show him a lesson. But there was nothing to do about it, so I watched as they attacked each other, taking note of Karasu's strategy in order to enable myself to teach him a lesson of my own. He seemed to have no weakness I could find on the surface, but as I scrutinized him, I saw a lack of defense when he used his most energy- draining attack. A plan began to form in my mind as they pulverized each other.
But all the tactics I'd come up with disappeared from my mind as I saw energy begin to gather around the black-haired demon. I stared in shock—I could have sworn he was running out of energy! It was obvious that Kurama was getting tired. I realized that I would have to do something soon, or he would die. I reached behind me, searching for the lock, to see if I could pick it and escape. My hand connected with the cold metal bars and I felt around for the door, and then the lock. Finding both, I ran my hands over them to get an idea of what they looked like, since I couldn't turn around to see them.
I watched as both combatants got bloodied and hurt, my mind working frantically. I writhed my hands, slick with blood from the cuts on my wrists, and finally managed to free them. Ignoring the pain, I wrapped my hands around bars and pushed sideways with all my strength. However, the bars only bent slightly. I have to do this, and fast! I thought, closing my eyes and pushing again. The bars bent a little more, but my hands slipped on the bars and hit the metal hard; I heard a snapping sound and gasped in pain, knowing that my arm was broken. I bit my lip, leaning the back of my head against the cold bars, tears of despair threatening my vision.
Suddenly, a sound in front of me made me look down. Hovering in front of me was the most welcome face I'd probably ever see in my life,
"Need some help?"
"Mai-ne! You have no idea how glad I am to see you! And yeah, I do need some help…"
"No problem," the red-haired kitsune smiled and slashed through the bars easily, "Where's Kurama?"
"Fighting Karasu, and we have to get to him now!" I answered in agitation.
Mai-ne nodded, "Can you tell me where?"
I shook my head, tears threatening again, "No, I'm not sure…"
The kitsune's face softened and she put her hand over mine, "Don't worry, we'll find him. And he'll be alive, I swear it," Her face darkened, "or someone will pay. Let's go." I leapt to the floor but cried out as my arm jolted and black spots danced in front of my eyes, "Fa-Nari, are you okay? What happened?"
"My-my arm…I think I broke it." I winced again and Mai-ne was instantly next to me, telling me not to move. I did as she instructed and she healed my arm, "Thanks, now we have to get going." I was so worried I thought I would die. We left the room at a run, following Mai-ne's nose. I'm so lucky she came. I'd be in so much trouble if she wasn't here. Speaking of which, why is she here? I wondered, but decided that now was not the time to ask.
The screen popped up and it showed a large empty room. I looked closer and saw two figures, one at each end of the room. I recognized the white hair as Kurama's, and then saw the black hair. Karasu. I gulped and tried to close my eyes. They didn't obey me, staying open and fixated on the screen. I resigned myself to watching my best friend die a horrible death, but I was resolved to take it out with that bastard later.
The two figures advanced and the screen zoomed closer, going first to Kurama's calm face, and then to Karasu's. I knew Kurama well enough to see through the calm mask, he was obviously worried—but about what I couldn't tell—and angry. This surprised me- I'd never seen him angry. I decided that I wouldn't ever want to get on his bad side. Karasu's face remained a mystery to me, and I was glad for that small blessing; I was convinced I didn't want to know what went on in the mind of that killer.
They stopped about twenty feet apart and exchanged a few words. I frowned, why were they talking? They were supposed to be fighting! Although, I supposed, it would probably be better to delay my friends' death with conversation…but that wasn't a Kurama thing to do. I waited for them to finish impatiently; I almost wished it was over already. Obviously, someone up there didn't like me, because they talked for a while longer, and as time went on, my stomach cramped up even more. Finally, they stopped talking, and the fight began.
Kurama bowed formally to Karasu, who merely saluted, with a smirk on his face. I growled, that idgit could at least show some respect to the person—or demon—who I hoped would show him a lesson. But there was nothing to do about it, so I watched as they attacked each other, taking note of Karasu's strategy in order to enable myself to teach him a lesson of my own. He seemed to have no weakness I could find on the surface, but as I scrutinized him, I saw a lack of defense when he used his most energy- draining attack. A plan began to form in my mind as they pulverized each other.
But all the tactics I'd come up with disappeared from my mind as I saw energy begin to gather around the black-haired demon. I stared in shock—I could have sworn he was running out of energy! It was obvious that Kurama was getting tired. I realized that I would have to do something soon, or he would die. I reached behind me, searching for the lock, to see if I could pick it and escape. My hand connected with the cold metal bars and I felt around for the door, and then the lock. Finding both, I ran my hands over them to get an idea of what they looked like, since I couldn't turn around to see them.
I watched as both combatants got bloodied and hurt, my mind working frantically. I writhed my hands, slick with blood from the cuts on my wrists, and finally managed to free them. Ignoring the pain, I wrapped my hands around bars and pushed sideways with all my strength. However, the bars only bent slightly. I have to do this, and fast! I thought, closing my eyes and pushing again. The bars bent a little more, but my hands slipped on the bars and hit the metal hard; I heard a snapping sound and gasped in pain, knowing that my arm was broken. I bit my lip, leaning the back of my head against the cold bars, tears of despair threatening my vision.
Suddenly, a sound in front of me made me look down. Hovering in front of me was the most welcome face I'd probably ever see in my life,
"Need some help?"
"Mai-ne! You have no idea how glad I am to see you! And yeah, I do need some help…"
"No problem," the red-haired kitsune smiled and slashed through the bars easily, "Where's Kurama?"
"Fighting Karasu, and we have to get to him now!" I answered in agitation.
Mai-ne nodded, "Can you tell me where?"
I shook my head, tears threatening again, "No, I'm not sure…"
The kitsune's face softened and she put her hand over mine, "Don't worry, we'll find him. And he'll be alive, I swear it," Her face darkened, "or someone will pay. Let's go." I leapt to the floor but cried out as my arm jolted and black spots danced in front of my eyes, "Fa-Nari, are you okay? What happened?"
"My-my arm…I think I broke it." I winced again and Mai-ne was instantly next to me, telling me not to move. I did as she instructed and she healed my arm, "Thanks, now we have to get going." I was so worried I thought I would die. We left the room at a run, following Mai-ne's nose. I'm so lucky she came. I'd be in so much trouble if she wasn't here. Speaking of which, why is she here? I wondered, but decided that now was not the time to ask.