Kurama's Tale
Chapter Seven: Escape
For the first time in his life, Youko Kurama panicked. Fear skipped along his skin like the feet of a fairy, making it prickle and itch. His fur stood on tip-toe, hackles bristling like the spines of a winter tree. His claws dug absently into the soft wood underfoot. His haunches crouched as though to allow him to spring away, however impossible that might be at that moment. He had backed stiffly against the wooden crate, his backside pressed against it's rough surface. Horror burnished the golden depths of his eyes a deeper amber, neutralized by the steady light around him, which only grew by the second.
Tenchi the Hunter's palms began to exhale puffs of white-gold energy, making his hands glow pristinely. The kistune's agonizing fear rose with every spark sprouted from the bounty-hunter's hands. He had to think. But he had no time to spare to do this. What was there left to do but die? He was caught, whether he wished to admit it or not.
But he was a rational creature, and excepted it quickly, instead of trying to deny it and waste his time gaping in horror. Instead, possibilities raced through his mind. He had defeated many hunters before, and this one, he vowed, would be no different. But, a part of him whispered, he could think of nothing to do to escape the clutches of this hunter like he had the others. He shoved the thought away with more gruffness than was necessary. He couldn't help the snarl that raged from the depths of his chest upward into his maw, dripping over his fangs in a stream of threat, tinted with fear.
Tenchi the Hunter laughed at this.
"Do not worry, Youko Kurama. I will finish you quickly enough. No need to fight it in your weak state," he taunted. The snarl grew, but Youko could feel the weakness in his limbs as they trembled just to hold up his body. And the fact thattheman'silluminating hands seemed to seep still more energy, this from his very core, was hardly helping him. His mind searched frantically for an answer, an escape. But only one came to him. He nearly discarded it, before he realized the true potential it held. Then he looked at it more closely.
It might be my only chance…
Kurama's body relaxed and he sat down almost placidly. He gave Tenshi one hate-filled glare before he closed his eyes and sank within his body.
Tenshi, although confused, felt rage. Who dare this fiend stop fighting! This is what he had been waiting for his whole life! To know the kitsune was giving it his all! To know that he had truly defeated him. He slackened his power and growled.
"What are you doing, you worthless trash? Fight me, damn you!" he roared, fury in his eyes as he glared at the thief before him.
Kurama's meditation did not last long, he didn't have time to let it last. Of course, the slacking of Tenshi's force on him helped quite a bit. From within him burst a surge of strength and power, and it's strength engulfed the orb of light that lay buried in his chest, swirling around it in a brilliant glare of spectacular light. This light severed the ties around the gentle, fragile orb, cutting it off from its host.
Tenchi's eyes widened as he realized the extent of what was occurring. A luscious silver light licked around the fox, bucking against his force upon the body the energy now sparked with.
'Where did all of this power come from!' the hunter thought frantically, surprise making his power waver, before fear shot through him, straight and sharp. Recovering quickly he pulled more viciously on the kitsune's Life Energy, trying to suck it away more quickly, hoping he wasn't too late to kill him.
A snarling howl broke sharp and stricken through the air, and gold eyes opened, glared, and glazed over. A broken smile stiffened on a pointed muzzle. The silver light surged upward, shooting to the ceiling and breaking through it with a crash.
Crumbling debris fell about Tenchi, who brought up a shield about himself at the last second, narrowly avoiding being struck by a heavy wooden beam from the ceiling.
Kurama soared over the sky freely. He was left with just his soul. His mind, he knew, would slowly fade if he did not find a host soon. Very soon. The mind could not stay bound with the soul when it is reincarnated, so it goes back into the body. Youko did not want that. He wanted to live on, to snicker in the shadows as others thought him gone, to scorn them. How dare that detective bounty hunter? To attack Youko and live? He would seek revenge when he was able. Until then, he would have to quickly infest a soulless body and wait until his energy returned. Somewhere safe and quiet, where no one would find him.
Kurama struggled against panic. He knew he did not have much time, and he had no ideas as to where he could find a host, and the thought was unsettling.
But then, an idea came to him. He was not a greedy person at heart. He enjoyed the pleasures of the hunt, of the stalk and planning and excitement that came with it. His old band had felt that as well, before he split parties with them for the former heist. He and Kuronue had been determined to take it on together, and Kurama had not gone back since. But there were a few in his group, and these he found disgusting, that knew of a portal. It was to the human world, where they dreamed there were riches all about to be taken, and they would live in the lap of luxury. Of course, they were all too powerful to break through the barrier that stood guard there. But, it might be a chance for him. Even if he was to live with disgusting human creatures, he would be able to bear it for a mere eight or ten years. With his energy so low, it would take that long, unfortunately, to become what he was. Not to mention learn to use a new body. But he was a shape changer, and it would not be too troublesome.
And so, Kurama set off toward the North.
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Authoress' Note: holy crap its been a while. I was trying to finish this story this chapter, but found that I couldn't. sorry for the absurdly long wait. I'm getting back on track with my writing and such, so hopefully the last chapter and the epilogue will be done before summer comes. However, I've been a bad person and looked forward in the episodes I'm on the Dark Saga now and have found that this isn't plausible! -tear- but all the same: Thanks to all who reviewed!
Reviews:
Henrika: here's yer update! Thanks for reviewing and the insight.
KaraKurama: thanks for the review!
