Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi, Shonen Jump, FUNimation, etc. However, I do own the idea for this story. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
Warning(s): This story contains utter horror. I myself had to have help writing a few of the scenes for lack of nerves. I highly suggest that if you can't handle something like this, then you don't read it at all. I will not be held accountable for anything that happens to someone if they do not read this and act without thinking of consequences.
Opening Notes: Hello, 'all! I had a lovely time on my ski trip, thank you very much. XD But it's good to be back and writing.
I have to apologize for the delay. I just hit a complete block with this story... And it's only the third chapter! o.o; My brain just decided to die on me, so... yeah. Thanks for being patient!
Proceed with caution.
Shadow House
Chapter Three: Attic
Biting his lip, he concluded that the lock must've slipped, it only unlocked from the outside, and that the wind had caused it to close... Without realizing how pathetic those excuses were, the Jaganshi strode over to one of the windows, and struggled to push it up. Yet it seemed that they both had been sealed shut...
With his eyes wide, Hiei stumbled back into the center of the room, for the first time in his life feeling the panic of being trapped.
.-.-.
The half-Koorime shook his head, trying to clear it. It was only a damn house with a damn youkai... Nothing to be 'afraid' of...
Hiei scoffed before glancing up to the stairs. Whatever had let out that shriek was most likely on the second floor at the moment, as he hadn't seen anything come down. At that 'thing' he reckoned to be the demon he was after...
With a smirk, he strode over to the marble staircase. (At first this had seemed odd to him. From outside the house looked like it would be dusty and wrecked on the inside as well, though it was the complete opposite. Perhaps the youkai had put some kind of spell on it, or this was just another illusion...)
Hiei was about to place a hand on the banister when he recoiled it quickly. There appeared to be some sort of coating on it. He confirmed that it wasn't blood after sniffing it, but it wasn't paint, either. Whatever it was, his instincts were telling him not to touch it...
Using his agility, the Jaganshi reached the top of the stairs quickly. Unlike the ground level, this floor was more shadowed. The amount of blood had increased greatly, making it look as if it was one horrible finger-painting. Streaks of it ran across the walls, almost as if it was planned to be that way when it had been shed. There were large trails of the garnet liquid on the floor, as if something had been dragged across it while dying.
A small grimace came from Hiei before he set off down the hall. As he walked passed them, he saw that every single door was shut, apparently sealed to the framework. Similar to the front door's handle, the knobs were rusted and dirty, some hanging loosely in their sockets. The paint was chipping off in large strips, piling at the entrance to each room.
The half-Koorime made his way to a door at the end of the hall, deeming it a good place to start at. However, as soon as he placed his hand on the doorknob, another shriek sounded throughout the house, this time coming from above him. It was followed by identical screams, along with a loud thumping noise as if something was throwing itself at the ground above his head.
Hiei smirked darkly; the demon was above him, in what he realized to be the attic. He had it cornered... Needless to say, he was rather shocked by how quick and easy it was to find it. Wouldn't a youkai with the power over illusions be able to escape him for a bit longer?
Shaking his head in slight disappointment, the apparition wrenched the door open to reveal a shadowed and narrow staircase. There was no railing that a person could use to steady themselves with while climbing up the rickety and weak steps, nor any protection from the dripping walls.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, the hiyoukai leapt gracefully up the stairs, making as little noise as possible. He reached the top quickly, during the process of which he had banged his head against the underside of what appeared to be a trap door. The Jaganshi shoved the barricade up, subconsciously noting that the shrieks had abruptly stopped as soon as he did so. He scanned the dark room silently, his gaze instantly landing on the hunched figure in the corner.
At first Hiei thought he was staring at a corpse of some sort; that is, until the being moved slightly, making its distorted face visible. The flesh across its body was decayed, displaying the graying bones. The hair atop its head was incredibly thin and wispy, as if it were smoke. From what the apparition could tell, the creature's lips and eyelids had been removed, causing its blazing yellow-green eyes to shift around wildly without rest. At the end of its fingers were two-inch long claws, dull with age and use, while dagger-like fangs of the same size glistened from the foaming saliva that coated them. Dirty black rags hung off of its thin and gangly frame, the tattered fabric looking as if it were connected by merely a thread.
Upon reflex, Hiei drew his katana, instinctively sizing the creature up as if it were an opponent. (Which it probably was.) However, he faltered when he noticed that it had no ki at all...
The hiyoukai frowned. 'If there's no energy, then it can't possibly be a demon... But if it's not that, then what-?'
He had no more time to ponder when the beast suddenly lunged at him, snarling that a rabid animal. The foam-like saliva dribbled down its lips, its teeth and claws bared for attack. Hiei leapt out of the way, watching as the talons sailed through the air where his face had been moments before. He made to swing his katana at the being, but he was forced to dodge once again, taken aback by its rapid movements. For such a frail-looking thing, it was incredibly agile, and he had to evade several more attacks before he could land one of his own.
As the blade connected with the beast's forearm, it let out an ear-splitting screech; Hiei gasped softly as the impossibly high pitch reached his enhanced hearing. Without his consent, one of his hands released the hilt of his katana, instead choosing to clamp over an ear. Unintentionally, his concentration lapsed, and the creature took this to its advantage.
A yell of surprise and slight pain escaped the Jaganshi as he felt fangs close around his shoulder while talons dug into his back. He looked down wildly only to find the sickly green gaze of the beast staring back at him. The scent of blood filled his senses, and he knew it to be his own. It was licking at the garnet liquid as it streamed from the gashes before it started to rake its claws across his back, tearing at the flesh and clothes like a ravenous wolf.
With a cry of rage, Hiei began to struggle against its surprisingly vice-like grip, eventually throwing it off of him; his actions also caused more damage to himself, though he took no notice of it. Backing away to regain ground, he reclaimed his fighting stance, ignoring the blood as it slid down his back and shoulder.
The creature pushed itself back up, running its long, pale tongue over the crimson coated its mouth. It seemed to smile at Hiei mockingly, as if teasing him with his own blood.
The Jaganshi snarled angrily, and dashed toward the beast once more, surprised when it made no move to dodge. He aimed his katana for the creature's neck, the edge glinting menacingly. It would never be able to get out of the way in time... This was it. In a matter of seconds, the wretched thing would be dead...
Hiei's attack was brought to a halt when the being caught the blade in its hand, a disturbing grin upon its face. The hiyoukai's eyes widened in shock, not believing what had happened. He was only brought to his senses when he was hurled through the air, colliding with a wall a moment later. Hiei fell to the ground, plaster and debris landing atop him. Growling viciously, he pushed himself up, his own fangs bared in fury as he looked up just in time to see the creature shatter the katana with its skeletal hands.
With a snarl, the half-Koorime flung himself at the beast, his crimson eyes blazing with a tangible anger. The being met his attack head-on, its animalistic style now rival to Hiei's. The Jaganshi's own talons raked through the thing's skin, tearing at the bones beneath it. He aimed for its livid green orbs, digging into them even as they burst, blood streaming down his hands.
When the fit eventually subsided, all that remained of the creature was a pile of disfigured flesh and fractured bones. Hiei stood above the mutilated corpse, literally drenched in its blood. He stayed in that position for several minutes before he backed away, stumbling over the shards of his katana. With a last glance at the mound of blood, organs, and flesh, he ducked back down the trap door.
Once he had gotten halfway down the flight of stairs, Hiei slumped against one of the damp walls, taking a deep breath. He hadn't lost control of his anger like that in a while... But that katana had served him for as long as he could remember, and to see it broken in the thing's hands as if it were as fragile as a twig...
Hiei shook his head, exhaling deeply once more. He continued down the stairs, pushing the issue to the back of his mind. At the moment, he had more pressing matters to deal with...
Such as, what he had just slaughtered wasn't the youkai he was searching for. (He still didn't know what it had been.) And now he was without his sword, with only his youki to rely on...
A small smirk graced Hiei's lips. Such a challenge may prove... fun...
Ending Notes: Whoo. That chapter was a bit hard to write... and Hiei was rather OOC at the end. Keh. Ah well, I had fun. n.n; 'Hope that everyone likes it!
There's not much else to say this time... Though, a review would be nice... D
