~*~*~*~*~ Chapter 22 ~*~*~*~*~
Hakuma dodged the attack at the last moment. In a fraction of an instant, he leaped stealthily aside. With sure-footed grace he landed across the room from where he had previously stood a smirk smearing itself across his face. So, he thought with a sense of anticipation, lets see what sort of power the infamous Makai thief has.
The situation held a sort a sort of fairytale-like romance; the ice demon almost broke into a fit of giggles with the thought. Here he was, the charming prince, defending his lady fair from the likes of this ruthless foe who would whisk away his bride-to-be. It was almost too good to be true. He could see it now; sitting down with his children and hearing them beg again and again, "Please, Father! Tell us the story of how you saved Mother from the evil Youko Kurama!" And then Botan, his beautiful queen, kissing his cheek and saying, "To think! If it wasn't for your chivalry I would still be in his clutches!"
And, O, what a tale it'd be! Taking his first born heir on his lap and relating it from the beginning! How pristine his family image was becoming! "Come, Son," he could hear himself say, "It all began when I became bed ridden with fever and too weak to stand. As I lay there, staring at the ceiling I heard the words of my father, 'One day, Boy, you will grow up and bear heirs of your own. And they will grow up and rule the frozen land of the Makai.' And as I sat there, I realized that what if I never had a chance to bear heirs? What if I died before I had children?" Here, Hakuma saw himself pause as the children gave frightened gasps. A secretive smile grew on his thin lips; "So, I harkened unto my sister, Arisu," His Son, sitting on his lap, immediately cried out, "Aunt Arisu!"
Hakuma nodded and continued, "Yes, Arisu; she had stayed by my bedside all through my sickness. I told her that when I get well, and I would get well, I would search for a wife."
"Mother!" His children cried at once.
"Yes, Mother. But when at last I did find her, I found that she was in the possession of the infamous, Makai thief, Youko Kurama!"
More frightened gasps on his children's behalf.
So, I stole your mother away to my palace, but Kurama followed! Faced with no other choice and fueled by my love for my bride I challenged the fox demon to a fight! A duel! A battle, pitching demon against demon! Love against lust! Good against evil! In the end, good prevailed."
Speaking of the duel to end all duels, he should probably get back to it now. Hakuma whirled around just in time to see Kurama unleash another attack of his rose whip. Spinning the whip around his full-circle, the thorny weapon was meant to hit the makai prince and slash deep gashes in his side, but Hakuma jumped out of the way, dodging once again.
But this time, Hakuma countered with an attack of his own. "Ice Knives!" He shouted, simultaneously throwing a barrage of sharp-edged icicles at Kurama.
The fox demon, with a fluid grace, leaped out of the way. But, unfortunately, Kurama wasn't as lucky as Hakuma had been. There were simply too meaning shards. As he jumped artfully away, a shard grazed his shoulder, sending spurts of crimson blood from the wound.
"Ugh!" Kurama grimaced, and nursed his damaged shoulder. He looked up at Hakuma, rage boiling up inside him. But he didn't let him see that, instead of a heated gaze the look he gave him was colder then the frozen wasteland around him. Such, a look did its job; Hakuma paled but grinned satisfactorily anyway.
"Kurama, don't you see? I'm the knight in shining armor! You are the sinister figure who would steal the knight's love away!" Hakuma laughed.
Kurama sniggered and shook his head. Hakuma ceased his laughter and looked at the fox demon, startled.
"I believe you have our roles reversed."
Before Hakuma could react, Kurama voice broke in, shouting his next attack.
"Rose petal waltz formation!" He shouted as red petals began to waft in on an unforeseen breeze and surround the redheaded demon in a sort a sort of whirlwind. Hakuma blanched and stared at Kurama in shock. What was he going to do with rose petals?
Kurama smiled clandestinely at Hakuma's ignorance. He wouldn't suspect what was going to happen to him next. With a wave of his hand he sent them flying toward Hakuma.
The ice demon never imagined that rose petals could be so sharp. As the first petal sliced through his skin, Hakuma realized he had been wrong. More wrong then he had thought possible. Every single one of those petals ripped through his body, slicing him again and again and again.
He screamed, part in pain and part in terror. How! How could a flower hurt so much?
As as last his mind broke free from its terrified mold and back into the rational, the pale man put up his shield.
The flower petals relented.
Hakuma stared up at the nonchalant kitsune standing before him, red suddenly blinded his vision. Panting he threatened, "You.... You...You'll pay for that Youko!"
Kurama merely nodded. This enraged Hakuma further, everything was tinted a horrible red color, rage consumed him and fires ate away at his reason.
He rushed at the demon, screaming at the top of his lungs, "ACID BLIZZARD GUST!"
A thick severe blast of cold hit the room and it filled with a white blindness; nothing could be seen in the sheet of fine snow. Hakuma's shield was still up and thus protected him from the most dangerous part of his attack. The acid constitution of the snow. Right now his blizzard was eating through Kurama, right down to the bone. A morbid appeasement setting in, the ice prince burst in maniacal laughter.
"HA HA HA! WHO'S THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR NOW! WHO! WHO! HA HA HA!"
"I am."
Hakuma's clapped his mouth shut. Who had said-
Something hit him, in the midst of all the blinding snow he could not tell what but something did all the same. And perhaps at the moment he was suffering from delirium but he could have sworn that he saw a pair of golden eyes piercing into him.
Hakuma stumbled back trying to find his balance. But it was lost forever. With a cry of surprise he fell back and went crashing into the mirror he loved so.
~*~*~*~*~
The snow slowly dissipated and as the room cleared, revealing a single redheaded man standing in the center over a body, scarred and bloody, lying on the shattered remains of a mirror.
Hakuma looked directly in to Kurama's emerald eyes. Emerald. And yet he could have sworn they had been gold. He opened his mouth preparing to mutter some sort of last word, something that would scar the kitsune for life, etched in his pretty-boy head forever. But all that came out was incoherent splutters and rivulets of blood. His gray eyes glazed over and then shut.
Kurama looked at his fallen foe blankly. No pity, compassion, or even triumph was found in his eyes. Only a sort of blank and hollow stare. He knelt down at Hakuma's side reached in to pocket of prince's waistcoat. In it he found a key and a necklace.
~*~*~*~*~
MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!! HA HA! TAKE THAT TEACHERS! I updated and I only had to stay home sick to do it! *laughs manically* But seriously, I am sick. So it's best I go and make myself some chicken soup. But I just wanted to give all my wonderful and supportive reviewers another chapter. But I leave you with question: Is Hakuma really dead? Think about I never said he died, did I? Did I? But anyway...
I'll try to have Chapter 23 up next Thursday but don't kill me if it isn't. There should be about 2 chapters left but maybe more if I'm feeling creative. So, HUZZAH! Ha, I got to keep it. ^_^ Thanks, Cheeto.
Trowa: Take me back, Meiko. She's nuts. 0.0
No, I'm not. Now back in the closet!
-Frith the Second, Esq.