Jewel in the Rough
Golden Foxfyre
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Yu Hakusho.
Chapter 6
"Why wasn't I ever told?" Amber queried.
Kurama sighed at her question. How he knew this he didn't really understand. "You weren't told for your own safety. Discretion hadn't yet developed when you were a child and you would have told too many people."
Koenma nodded in agreement. "Amber, now that some of the weaker demons know about this, it will only be a matter of time until the more powerful ones do. Your fighting skills will have to improve, because, frankly, right now they aren't enough." Then he turned to the fox demon. "The Death Plant was overkill Kurama. You could've stopped him without killing him."
The group scowled at him. "I think you're wrong there, Koenma. I saw how angry and determined he was. Nothing short of death would have stopped him." Yusuke declared.
A snapping twig caused them to alert, spring to their feet and whirl around. A demon stood there, and it was clear that he knew Kurama's secret. "Isn't this a surprise. All of you in one place." He threw a handful of sparkling dust into Kurama's face.
He stumbled back, red hair falling over his shoulders. A strong wind started to blow and the familiar wailing howl of a fox sounded. Once the dust flung up by the wind settled, it revealed a taller being, with shoulder length silver hair, fox ears and a tail. His eyes were now a golden color instead of the green they had been.
Quickly, the others flinched away from him.
"What do you want?" The fox demon demanded.
"What I've always wanted. To kill you." The attacker shifted to his demon form, causing Amber to cry out in shock.
I can't let this happen! She felt rooted to the ground, even though she wanted to help. As he leapt to attack, she still couldn't move. Then, she noticed he was attacking her! Amber dropped to the ground and rolled away while sending a kick to his rear.
The demon managed to pull her to her feet and held her in a restraint position. "If you attack me, she goes too."
The spirit fox demon held still, trembling with rage. He didn't dare attack, for that would harm Amber. His entire being wouldn't let him do that. "Using another life as your shield is the act of a coward." He snarled, clenching his hands into fists.
"Maybe, but now I see the anger in your eyes. I want to kill you when you fight at your best and that is when you're angry." He threw her aside, breaking her ribs in the same motion. She cried out as she collided with the ground.
A deep growl came from Kurama as he lunged at the one who'd harmed her. "Kurama! No!" Her cry warned him of the danger he'd put himself in, and his fury instantly grew cold.
The others were shocked; he'd actually listened to her! In that form, he was a little out of control when challenged. They had seen that first hand in the Dark Tournament. But he seemed to care about more than himself in this form when she was near. What was it about her that broke through the stone wall that separated his conscious from the fox demon within? Or had it always been there, hidden from all sight and knowledge?
Then, a wailing wind rose. It startled Boton; few apparitions had the power to transform, but that wind... Amber! The ferry girl turned to stop her, but was too late. The transformation was already underway. No! It's too dangerous! Does she even know what she's doing? A few seconds later, the process was complete.
A gentle hand caught his wrist, stopping the killing blow. "That's enough, Kurama. You've made your point." Her voice was gentle, yet firm.
He stopped attempting to punch the other demon and turned. Golden eyes widened in surprise. It was Amber, yet not. She'd changed. Her golden hair was much longer, flowing down past her waist. A set of golden fox ears she bore, matching her hair to perfection. Her tail flowed from her back gracefully and the ensemble was completed by her flowing white dress. Clearly she was taller than she had been.
"Don't kill him. Remember all you've learned? Killing him would be like throwing that out the window." Amber declared.
He calmed, shifting back to his human form, followed by Amber. Once she finished her transformation, she winced and held her ribs.
Instantly, Kurama was at her side, steadying her. "How did you do that?" He queried.
"I don't know. Amber sat down with his help, then gazed into his eyes. "I just knew you shouldn't kill him. There are better ways."
The boys turned around while Boton bound the apparition's ribs. Once she'd finished, they turned back around.
It's most unusual that she can transform. Few spring apparitions have one, and even fewer have the power to reach it. Amber is more powerful than we thought." Hiei mused.
Golden Foxfyre
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Yu Hakusho.
Chapter 6
"Why wasn't I ever told?" Amber queried.
Kurama sighed at her question. How he knew this he didn't really understand. "You weren't told for your own safety. Discretion hadn't yet developed when you were a child and you would have told too many people."
Koenma nodded in agreement. "Amber, now that some of the weaker demons know about this, it will only be a matter of time until the more powerful ones do. Your fighting skills will have to improve, because, frankly, right now they aren't enough." Then he turned to the fox demon. "The Death Plant was overkill Kurama. You could've stopped him without killing him."
The group scowled at him. "I think you're wrong there, Koenma. I saw how angry and determined he was. Nothing short of death would have stopped him." Yusuke declared.
A snapping twig caused them to alert, spring to their feet and whirl around. A demon stood there, and it was clear that he knew Kurama's secret. "Isn't this a surprise. All of you in one place." He threw a handful of sparkling dust into Kurama's face.
He stumbled back, red hair falling over his shoulders. A strong wind started to blow and the familiar wailing howl of a fox sounded. Once the dust flung up by the wind settled, it revealed a taller being, with shoulder length silver hair, fox ears and a tail. His eyes were now a golden color instead of the green they had been.
Quickly, the others flinched away from him.
"What do you want?" The fox demon demanded.
"What I've always wanted. To kill you." The attacker shifted to his demon form, causing Amber to cry out in shock.
I can't let this happen! She felt rooted to the ground, even though she wanted to help. As he leapt to attack, she still couldn't move. Then, she noticed he was attacking her! Amber dropped to the ground and rolled away while sending a kick to his rear.
The demon managed to pull her to her feet and held her in a restraint position. "If you attack me, she goes too."
The spirit fox demon held still, trembling with rage. He didn't dare attack, for that would harm Amber. His entire being wouldn't let him do that. "Using another life as your shield is the act of a coward." He snarled, clenching his hands into fists.
"Maybe, but now I see the anger in your eyes. I want to kill you when you fight at your best and that is when you're angry." He threw her aside, breaking her ribs in the same motion. She cried out as she collided with the ground.
A deep growl came from Kurama as he lunged at the one who'd harmed her. "Kurama! No!" Her cry warned him of the danger he'd put himself in, and his fury instantly grew cold.
The others were shocked; he'd actually listened to her! In that form, he was a little out of control when challenged. They had seen that first hand in the Dark Tournament. But he seemed to care about more than himself in this form when she was near. What was it about her that broke through the stone wall that separated his conscious from the fox demon within? Or had it always been there, hidden from all sight and knowledge?
Then, a wailing wind rose. It startled Boton; few apparitions had the power to transform, but that wind... Amber! The ferry girl turned to stop her, but was too late. The transformation was already underway. No! It's too dangerous! Does she even know what she's doing? A few seconds later, the process was complete.
A gentle hand caught his wrist, stopping the killing blow. "That's enough, Kurama. You've made your point." Her voice was gentle, yet firm.
He stopped attempting to punch the other demon and turned. Golden eyes widened in surprise. It was Amber, yet not. She'd changed. Her golden hair was much longer, flowing down past her waist. A set of golden fox ears she bore, matching her hair to perfection. Her tail flowed from her back gracefully and the ensemble was completed by her flowing white dress. Clearly she was taller than she had been.
"Don't kill him. Remember all you've learned? Killing him would be like throwing that out the window." Amber declared.
He calmed, shifting back to his human form, followed by Amber. Once she finished her transformation, she winced and held her ribs.
Instantly, Kurama was at her side, steadying her. "How did you do that?" He queried.
"I don't know. Amber sat down with his help, then gazed into his eyes. "I just knew you shouldn't kill him. There are better ways."
The boys turned around while Boton bound the apparition's ribs. Once she'd finished, they turned back around.
It's most unusual that she can transform. Few spring apparitions have one, and even fewer have the power to reach it. Amber is more powerful than we thought." Hiei mused.