Kokoro No Kaitou : Once Lost, Now Found
Chapter 16
Just in case you're sensitive about cursing, this chapter rating is up a little. Naomi isn't quite as bad as Midori, however.
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Kurama cried out when Amaya struck him again. He fell to all fours and she kicked him in the stomach as hard as she could, sending him rolling across the floor and hitting the wall.
He groaned.
Damn! She's too…strong. I can't get close enough to break those bracelets…and there's only so much time left…
He wished…he wished that he would open his eyes and realize that he'd just been dreaming. He'd discover that he was safe and sound at home, and Amaya was asleep in his arms…
But that wasn't going to happen.
He blocked when she kicked at him again, and he summoned a plant that bound her other leg to the floor. This seemed to keep her there, and Kurama rolled away from her and stood.
He had noticed that she was considerably weaker than before. She was still too much for him, but…something was missing. He wondered if it was her soul that gave her most of her power - or lack thereof.
Help me…I'm scared…
Kurama looked over and saw another ghost child. She was the mirror image of Tsuki, only with silver hair and a crescent moon. She was crying, and her tears were running in streams down her cheeks.
"Amaya...?" He said quietly. She didn't seem to see him or realize that he was there.
Her astral form.
He turned and saw Tsuki standing on the other side. She looked at Kurama. Break the bracelets. Now.
Amaya was tearing at the plants furiously, and he grabbed her wrist, using more plants to shatter the golden band. Amaya's astral form flickered briefly, a sign that it was working.
He grabbed the other wrist, but Amaya bit him, sinking her teeth into the tender flesh of his wrist. He cried out and pulled away, trying to stop the blood flow. Amaya merely licked her lips, his blood running down her chin.
"Kokitsune," crooned 'Amaya', in a voice that was definitely not hers. "So weak and fragile, yet with blood sweeter than any other's."
The door suddenly burst open, and both of them looked over. Naomi and Shishiwakamaru were there, and they entered the room.
Kurama stared at his daughter, though she didn't seem to notice - either that, or she liked ignoring him.
"Well, if it isn't psycho-bitch." Naomi said, walking casually towards the possessed tennyo. "Only this time, you're in my mom. Guess I can take out some aggressions then." She said, stopping just out of striking range and cracking her knuckles.
"Naomi, break the bracelet!" Kurama exclaimed.
She narrowed her eyes at him threateningly. "I know that, asshole. You're next on my 'people I need to beat the shit out of today' list."
Kurama blinked in surprise, and Shishiwakamaru came over to him.
"She knows that you're her father." He explained.
"Oh."
Shishi sighed and pulled out a strip of cloth while Naomi started fighting Amaya, who had just broken free from her plant bindings.
"Normally, I'd let you bleed, but I can't." He said, kneeling down and starting to wrap the kitsune's wrist.
Kurama winced, then gave him a questioning look. "What do you mean?"
"I mean…I can see how much she cares about you. And…if it makes her happy, then I'll…you can be with her." He said.
"Oh…didn't know that I needed permission from you to stay with my mate." Kurama said sarcastically.
Naomi seemed to have no trouble at all fighting against her mother, who was quickly beaten. Kurama could only assume that pent up anger was the source of her sudden strength.
Amaya fell to her knees, panting heavily. Naomi roughly grabbed her wrist and snapped the bracelet off.
The tennyo gasped, and her eyes flashed.
"I…what…what happened?"
Kurama nearly grinned as he jogged over to them.
"Naomi, that was-"
She whirled on him, pointing an accusing finger in his face.
"You! You god damn, mother-fucking, schizophrenic excuse for a frilly, flower-wielding gay kitsune father!" She screamed. "Why the fuck didn't you tell me?! Huh?! Where the hell are your balls, flower boy?!"
Kurama gaped at her, surprised at everything that had just come tumbling out of her mouth.
She suddenly punched him as hard as she could, squarely in the jaw, and sent him flying into the opposite wall.
Amaya quickly got to her feet. "Kurama!" She then looked over at Naomi, her eyes wide. "Naomi! Did you do that off of the top of your head?"
Kurama groaned and sat up, glaring at her. "Gee, thanks, Amaya. I care about you too."
"Oh! Gomen nasai!" She exclaimed, running over to him. She kneeled down. "Are you alright, Kurama-kun?"
"No. I just got punched in the face. I'm perfectly fine." He said, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, well that's a relief." Amaya said, smiling.
Kurama stared at her, and she blushed sheepishly.
"Oh…you were being sarcastic, weren't you?"
"Yeah."
"Sorry."
She cupped his face in her hands and they glowed silver, healing him. She let go and smiled.
"Thanks." He said, standing up.
Amaya stood as well and smiled sweetly at her daughter. "Better now, honey?"
"Much." Naomi replied.
The building started to shake and rumble, causing them all to fall over slightly.
"Wh-what was that?" Amaya asked, once the shaking had stopped.
"Koori." Shishiwakamaru and Kurama said in unison.
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The four of them were running down the hall towards the room that Naomi and Chuu had found earlier. When they reached the door, the others were already there.
"Naomi-kun!" Chuu exclaimed.
She grinned. "Did ya miss me?"
He gave a lopsided grin back. "Ha! Sure as hell! Ya alright, though? Ya have a cut, righ' here." He said, pointing to his temple.
She shook her head. "I'm fine. Like you said, it's just a cut."
Dawn walked towards the door, and stopped. "It's coming from here, isn't it?"
It was more of a statement than a question.
"Right! So let's go kick some goddess butt!" Amaya exclaimed.
"No." Kurama said.
She gave him a confused look. "What do you mean, 'no'?"
He looked back at her. "You have to stay here. Tsuki, the evil one, she said that she needed your blood to finish raising the goddess. And Tsuki's ghost said, 'the process may kill her'. And while she may be vague, I don't want to risk it."
"But-"
"Please. I know you never listen to me, but this time…" He stopped.
"I will." She said.
He smiled in relief. She stepped forward and hugged him. "But please, be careful."
He hugged her back, then pulled away. Amaya put a hand on her hip and gave Naomi a stern look.
"And you'd better not leap into battle without thinking first, you hear?" She said.
Naomi blinked, then grinned. "I won't."
The others turned and went into the room, ready to face whatever might get tossed their way. Tsuki was already there, on the other side of the giant gem, chanting something in Latin. Amaya's necklace was suspended and glowing in the air before her.
And the stone itself was pulsing rapidly, and even brighter than before.
The fake tennyo opened her eyes slowly, and she looked towards the newcomers. She smirked.
"Ah. If it isn't kokitsune." She said. "And his ragtag band of jokes."
Dawn growled. "Don't group me in with an idiot like him."
"Well, whether you're with him or not, it's already too late. I've just finished."
The pulsing of the stone suddenly stopped, and the surface rippled like water. A woman slowly floated out of the stone, though she looked as though she were sleeping.
She was beautiful, with long, silver hair that reached her ankles in perfectly straight and even sheets. She had a pale complexion, and a thin crescent moon on her forehead - one that almost matched Amaya's.
She wore an elegant dress. The whole thing was made of silk, and was silver in color. The top was off the shoulder, with long, billowing sleeves that belled out from the elbow, hiding her hands beneath them. The skirt reached to the floor, and had a slit all the way up the right leg. At the lower corner, near the opening, a white moon was etched - a simple, yet beautiful addition to the dress. She also wore sandals.
Her hair blew around her for a moment, before settling back into place.
And then she collapsed.
She fell hard onto the stone, which was solid once more.
Tsuki frowned. "She needs a sacrifice to be complete. Where did you leave Amaya?"
When no one answered her, she stepped forward to the fallen goddess, taking the necklace and securing it on her. The crescent on Koori's forehead flashed briefly, then Tsuki looked over at them.
"Well? Where is she?"
"Like we'd tell you." Naomi snorted. "Where she is is none of your business."
Jin looked confused. "But whenever I ask ya somethin' like tha', ya tell me 'up yer butt an' aroun' tha corner'."
They all raised eyebrows at him, then looked back to Tsuki.
Naomi got into a fighting stance. "Come on. Bring it, bitch."
Tsuki frowned, then seemed to remember something. "Fine. Come at me, Naomi."
The hanyou shrugged. "Your funeral."
She started running towards the tennyo, summoning her spirit sword as she did. Kurama was slightly confused as to why Tsuki would let someone charge at her, then he realized why.
"Naomi, don't!!"
But it was too late.
Tsuki easily dodged the attack, and grabbed Naomi's arms, pinning them behind her back. She smirked.
"You see, to raise Koori completely, I need someone with just the tinniest percentage of tennyo or koorime blood. And you, my dear, are half tennyo."
"Naomi!" Chuu and Kurama exclaimed at once.
Dawn's eyes narrowed. If no one else would attack Tsuki, then she would.
She ran forward as well, using her pyrokinesis to light the tennyo's hands on fire, and effectively making her drop her hold on Naomi. She then jumped into the air, and Naomi ducked, clearing a path for the firestarter to kick Tsuki right in the head.
She went flying back into the wall, and Midori ran forward as well, using her fire to help.
Tsuki growled, then waved her hand, sending all three girls flying back towards the others. She then stumbled to her feet, and spat some blood onto the floor. She closed her eyes, and chanted something else in Latin.
Doppelgangers appeared beside her, one for each fighter, plus herself.
"This should keep you nuisances busy." She said.
Hiei stepped forward. "Listen, everyone. Because there are so many, that means that she'd have to divide her soul to accommodate all of them. That's the type of demon she is. If you use your strongest techniques, they'll fall easily."
Everyone grabbed a doppelganger and started fighting.
The real Tsuki smirked, and started walking towards the door.
What the fools don't know is that if they just killed me, then all of the doppelgangers would vanish. Unfortunately, they can't tell which is real and which is fake. And while they're busy, I'll just grab the tennyo. Koori will be raised.
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Amaya jumped in surprise when the doors slammed open. She had been leaning against the wall, but she jumped to her feet almost instantly.
Her eyes widened when she saw Tsuki emerge.
"Ah, dear sister, it's time to face your destiny, I'm afraid." She said tauntingly. "Will you come peacefully, or must I hurt you? Heaven know I don't want to waste your precious blood."
"You aren't my sister. Who are you, really?" Amaya demanded, getting into a defensive position.
"I am a humble soul-stealer by the name of Lamia. I was a servant of Leiko, but now, everyone will be bowing to me instead." She said, putting a hand on her hip.
Amaya threw a ball of silver rei-ki at her, but it was deflected easily.
Tsuki shook her head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. That wasn't very nice, Amaya-chan."
She stepped forward, and grabbed Amaya's wrist.
"Get the hell off of me!" She exclaimed, struggling to break from her grip. But Tsuki only hit her with her free hand behind the head, then grabbed her other wrist and pinned her arms behind her back.
"You should've chosen the easy way out."
She dragged her back into the room, and forced her towards the stone, though Amaya was struggling.
"Let go!" She shouted. "Let me go!"
Tsuki frowned, and hit her in the back, which made Amaya fall to her knees, her head bowed over the stone.
Tsuki reached to the sword at her side, and drew the blade. She raised it high above her head, and exclaimed loudly, "And so you die!"
Naomi watched in horror as the katana started to come down.
There was…nothing that she could possibly do. That is, without getting both of them killed in the process. And even if she could, her feet seemed to be glued to the ground.
When the time comes, you may have to choose.
Choose…between myself and my mother…
Kurama blocked another attack from the doppelganger. He realized that none of them could help Amaya without getting killed. If they let their guard down for one minute, then the doppelganger would kill them.
He would do it.
He would sacrifice himself, if it meant that she could live. But something was binding him to his spot, and it wouldn't let him go.
"Amaya!!" He screamed.
The sound of sword meeting flesh almost seemed to echo around the sudden quiet of the room. Blood splattered onto the stone, and the only noise that any of them heard was a soft…
…thump.
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Author's Notes: And now you all can't yell at me, because you all said, "Nah, I won't send you death threats!" Bet you'll go back on your word though. And I bet this chapter will get the most reviews. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAA!! The Queen of Suspense is living up to her name!!
Oh, and I'm not sure if it was self-explanitory or not, but the villages were slaughtered by 'Tsuki', and she figured that if she laid them out like that, the Reikai Tantei would figure out who had done it and would come running straight to her. Because they were laid out in kanji - moon. Moon in Japanese (the old form) is 'Tsuki'.
Also, I'm done with Midori's pic! She came out really well!! And guess what else I'm working on? Bloopers. For this fic and others. They'll be posted on the website when I'm done with this fic.
Guess what? Only the next chapter and the epilogue are left, and then this story is finished! That makes me sad...... And that means that all of you have to read my other stories.
Kagome0102 : Thanks, but it's just because I'm a perfectionist. And yes, Amaya would be around thirty. But she still looks like she's about eighteen. And Shishi is probably older than eighteen, and he just looks that way. So he's probably actually older than her, so I...I guess it would be okay. I never really thought about age. Just personalities, and needing someone for Kurama to hate - a romantic rival for Amaya.
LuckyKoorime : Now you're only second. And don't worry about Lucky. Remember this quote - "Don't Worry, Be Happy!!"
Shessha's Crazy : I'd be happy to beta read your story!! What's it about?
miyako14 : I tried to chose you to be my beta reader, but it sent the e-mail back. And I guess that's okay, considering that there are only two more chapters left. Would you perhaps like to beta read one of my other stories? If so, then E-MAIL me at Snowfireflyaol.com. That way, I can just hit reply, and it should work.
Story Weaver1 : True. They did mate when Kurama was a demon, but Amaya is a tennyo. That means that she has a tiny bit of demon blood, and thus Naomi couldn't be a full demon. Tennyos aren't really demons... And yes, I meant it more like "half-breed".
Katie E. : I tried to e-mail you too! But you didn't reply. sniff If you want, you could beta read one of the other stories. E-mail me if you do. Snowfireflyaol.com
FieryKitsune : Yeah, I'm mean that way. LOL. You sure you aren't going to send me a death threat? Somehow, I think you will.
Sun Priestess : Did I top that other cliffhanger? And now you know what her reaction is. LOL.
Suzaku no miko : Two chapters left. One chapter and the epilogue. And yes, Kano having a six-pack is....drool. LOL.
DarkVixenNisha : Personally, I think that Midori is a bit weird. But that's why I like her so much! If I had no restraints, I'd be just like her. LOL.
Blue Pixie Dust : Two chapters. And thank you! Is this cliffhanger just as good? My sister said that I'm evil. LOL.
Psychocatgal : I think it is as bad as I said. LOL.
Also, if this story breaks two hundred reviews by it's end, then I'll make sure to have a special treat - if any of you have read Hanyou Lothuial's 'YYH Vs. The Internet Survey', then I'll let you know that I'll make quizzes for each of the characters in this fic!! She gave me permission to use the form, so it's all okay!!
Remember, 200 reviews!!!