Chapter 4: Capture!
Disclaimer: If I owned YYH, I would be the richest person and the happiest alive. But sadly, I am neither. _
~NORMAL POV~
"Hiei!" Kurama cursed under his breath, waiting for his friend to appear. But he didn't. The fox, alarmed, dived back into the cavern, but was not ready for the sight that beheld him. "Oh gods." Kurama took in a sharp breath, looking at the pathetic state Hiei was in.
Using her ice powers, the Koorime had managed to partially seal him to the wall. Sometime during the process, Kurama guessed, Hiei had passed out. She left his head and body free, but the fire demon could do nothing to melt the hunks of ice keeping his arms and legs stuck to the wall. He couldn't if he tried, either. There were ice wards plastered on the hunks of frozen water. Kurama picked up the nearest thing he could find, a stone rock, and pounded away at the ice, hoping to chip it all away before the Koorime appeared again.
Slowly, piece after piece, the ice came apart, and Hiei was soon free. Why didn't he fight back? Kurama wondered, but shook it off, more concerned about getting his friend to safety than anything else. The fox turned around and…
"THERE HE IS! THE FORBIDDEN CHILD AND HIS FRIEND!" Kurama winced, his ears ringing from the Koorime's verbal assault. Behind her, he saw others gathering, poised for an attack. Kurama shifted Hiei's weight to one shoulder and his hand instinctively reached for the seeds in his hair. However, halfway there, he stopped, wondering how he'd grow anything in the snow. All his plants were adapted for the warm, humid forests where his den used to be. This was Koorime City; there was nowhere warm in sight. Unless… No. Kurama shook his head vigorously, clearing his head of that plan. There was no possible way he could control that plant yet. It would surly grow out of control, and Koorime City would know no more.
Slowly, the Koorime backed them up into a corner, Kurama finally grasping his rose and fumbling with the whip. As he transferred energy into his whip, the biting cold seemed to increase tenfold just from the bit he used. The lead Koorime, the one who Kurama bumped into, held out her hand. In the other were talismans* and a crystalline whip. Kurama raised an eyebrow.
"Give us the Forbidden Child and we shall allow you to escape." Kurama remained tacit; his only reply was nipping her hand with his rose whip. She snarled and recoiled, her blood turning into sharp pieces of crimson ice. "Fine. Have it your way." With that, she threw the talismans and whip over her shoulder, another Koorime catching it.
"Don't you even want use of your weapon?" He asked, stepping back a pace. The Koorime laughed.
"That thing?" She asked, jerking a thumb at the demoness who caught it. "I have no need for that. You were defeated the minute you stepped into our territory. Kurama grimaced, tightening his hold on the rose whip. The Koorime closed her eyes and raised her arms above her head. The others seemed to grow restless with the stance. They knew something. She let both hands majestically fall to her sides, before sharply raising them to hover in front of her chest. As Kurama watched, a small ball of light appeared, slowly growing till it was the size of a softball. Kurama finally decided he would not let this go on any longer. Letting Hiei drop to the ground, he lunged forth with his rose whip, but halfway through the attack Hiei awoke.
"KURAMA! YOU IDIOT! GET ON THE GROUND!" Kurama, shocked by his friend's alarmed reaction, dropped like a stone. But it was too late. The Koorime opened her eyes, both palms facing towards her enemy.
"HEART OF ICE!" Kurama shielded his eyes, as the ball of light exploded, sending him hurling back into the wall. He tried to struggle back on his feet, and to his contempt, found that he couldn't move.
Kurama blinked, his eyes darting to the lead Koorime. She stared at him and cruely laughed, walking over and kicking him in the ribs. Had Kurama had control over his voice, he would have screamed enough to shatter Mars. He felt his ribcage snap, the Koorime freezing him before attacking. She watched his futile efforts to regain control, and shook her head.
"Give up. You have absolutely no chance of living. There is a reason my attack is called the 'Heart of Ice.' Learn to enjoy the last few minutes of your life." Kurama's eyes darted over to Hiei, who, to his dismay, had also been caught in the blast. But the Koorime, after sticking talismans on him, set him free. Hiei didn't even try to struggle, only following their commands as if in a trace. Kurama read the talisman stuck on the back of the fire demon's neck.
"Imperial decree: Obedience" Inwardly, Kurama made a face, but he looked up as an elder Koorime approached. She kicked Hiei, sending him sprawling. There was no response except for him regaining his composure.
"Is he the one? Is he the Forbidden Child?" As if acting as one, the group replied.
"Yes, Elite Empress." The Empress gave a small, almost arrogant smile.
"Good. Get as much information as possible from him. We will need to know what is happening around Makai. He may also hold dear, sweet secrets of the Reikai Tentai. Extract whatever information you can; by any means necessary. And leave no tear gems lying around. They are a part of the Forbidden Child too, and they hold power." With that, she walked out of the cave, but not before the lead Koorime ran up to her.
"Empress, with all respect, what shall we do when we've gotten all information from him?" She bowed, and looked up quickly. Kurama was beginning to notice drowsiness and sharp chest pains, especially when he'd breathe in. The Empress replied without even turning around.
"Kill him." And that was all Kurama heard before he blacked out.
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*Talismans are basically slips of paper with orders on them; lots like wards, but they control the person. Anyone who knows about Shaman King and has watched or read the Lee Bailong series should know.
AN: Alright, I KNOW Koorime aren't that strong, but they should have some means of protection, right? *sighs* Poor Hiei, Poor Kurama, what will they do? Find out in the next chapter! REVIEW AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
~Koganeiro Kitsune