Chapter Five

I dropped my hands to my sides. Fear spread through me like wildfire. I had no clue what had just happened to my toddler son. Had she killed him? Was he safe and alive somewhere? "What did you do to Ryou?" I demanded, needing to know the answer. "I let him go, just as we agreed," Leiko answered, trying to look innocent. She abruptly dropped the innocent look and sauntered toward me, her eyes gleaming with the victory she was sure she now had. "Now, it is time for you to uphold your end of the bargain," she said. "How were you, a male able to bear Kurama an heir?" she questioned. I scowled, holding back the curse that threatened to escape my lips. She had done something to my son. There was no way I was going to reveal that I had no clue how I had been able to bear children.

Anger burned within me, hotter than the flames that I was known for producing. Leiko had tried to seduce my mate, then she had stolen one of my sons, injured my men, and demanded that I tell her how I was able to bear my mate's children. She had been asking for a fight from the very start, and now she was going to get one. I could feel my black dragon stirring, waiting to get out and avenge my anger. I felt the room warm up as flames began to appear around the room. The bandana covering my jagon vanished, unable to stand the heat radiating from me. My third eye opened slowly, strengthening me. I was going to make Leiko pay for messing with me and my family.

Suddenly the thick stone tiles surrounding Leiko shattered , sending the fragments flying all over the place. Monstrously thick vines had burst through the soil beneath our very feet. They wrapped around Leiko effectively binding her. The vixen hissed in anger and thrashed about trying to free herself from the tangle of greenery that now bound her completely. I turned my head to look over my shoulder. Had Kurama found me?

Sata emerged from the shadows. Her golden eyes flared with anger. "Traitor," Leiko hissed. "How dare you betray me!" "Why not? "You dared betray the crown by kidnapping the prince," Sata responded with a scowl. I felt a tingle of energy in the air and knew an attack was coming. I dashed to Sata's side and pulled her to me. Leiko's face twisted in anger and the vines binding her suddenly exploded, sending greenery flying everywhere. "I will make you suffer for your betrayal," she snarled. "I've been suffering my whole life, a little more to help the Sovereign recover his son is of no matter," Sata responded icily. Anger distorted Leiko's face even further. The explosion knocked us both to the ground. With a start, I realized that Leiko's energy had a strangely familiar feel to it. In fact it felt similar to Karasu's, too similar. The vixen had freed herself and was stalking toward us, anger radiating off her in great waves. Her eyes were solely on Sata. I knew I had to get Sata out of there before Leiko killed her. "Sata, get out of here as fast as you can," I hissed into the vixen's ear. "Find Ryou and get him to his father,"

I got to my feet quickly creating a ring of dark flames around Leiko. To my relief, Sata took advantage of my distraction and hurried from the room. I hoped that she could find my son and get him safely home.

A moment later the wall behind her violently erupted, forcing me to use my speed to avoid being hit by the flying debris. The force of the explosion blew out the fiery ring that had surrounded her. Leiko emerged from the cloud of dust created by the explosion. I was mildly taken off guard when her eyes met mine. They had changed from their dark brown color to a familiar shade of violet. It was no illusion, no trick of the light, for not only had her eye color change but so did her whole demeanor, her movements. She had changed completely.

"So, it seems you've managed to elude death Karasu," I murmured. Leiko smirked. "Ah, you are more perceptive than I realized," The possessed vixen said as she stepped toward me. "Now that my little secret out, I suppose you'll want to know how I cheated death." He continued. "I don't mind you know, after all you won't live to tell," He smiled sadistically as he stepped closer. " You see, this young lady somehow was see, hear and speak with me. Remarkable still, she knew who I was and wanted my help to win a certain silver fox's heart. I of course agreed to the arrangement, since I would not only gain possession of a body but also Kurama as well,"

Leiko chuckled as I narrowed my eyes. "I think I got quite a deal, don't you? This vixen is quite the package," the possessed vixen murmured as she slowly ran her hands down her body, a wicked grin upon her face. "When I am through with you, I will be the one to comfort your poor grieving mate, "Don't worry I'll take good care of him for you," she purred. I scowled.

My energy flared with my anger and I wanted to strike, but I knew that if I made a wrong move one of those explosions could mean my death. Seeing as Karasu cared not about destroying the place, I knew he would use his explosions to counter my fire just has he had moments before. I had no other choice but to use my strongest attack and hope that when it was all over I would live.

I felt the telltale flare of energy that told me an attack was coming and quickly formed a fiery shield around myself. No sooner than I had done so, small explosions erupted all around me. I could feel the change in the air as my dark dragon drew near. It had been waiting to arise, eager to avenge its master's anger. I was all too happy to let it. Dark flames leapt from my body igniting random objects in the room. It didn't phase Leiko/Karasu in the slightest. The possessed vixen moved to strike again, charging at me. I swerved to avoid her attack and aimed a fiery punch to her side. The punch connected, but so did one of my enemy's bombs. Fortunately the intense heat I was producing had made it explode prematurely and my shoulder only sustained a small gash instead of the wide gaping hole I suspected would have been there otherwise.

A dark shape formed in the sky outside and came barreling toward us at an impressive speed for something so large. The dragon had arrived. I flipped out of the way of another attack, landing near my sword. I snatched it up and struck Leiko with it, creating a long gash across her stomach. The possessed vixen lashed out with more explosions. I managed to avoid most of them, earning a few more small wounds for my efforts. I felt the dragon nearing, moving ever closer to its goal. It was close now, very close, just a few more moments and it would be upon us. Luckily my foe was not facing the direction the dragon was coming from. That was the way I wanted it.

I leaped out of the way with a smirk as the dragon burst through what was left of the wall that had been destroyed earlier, sending debris flying everywhere. Leiko turned at the explosion and her eyes widened in fear at the massive black dragon hurtling toward her. Its ruby eyes blazed in silent fury, like two burning coals. It's large mouth was open wide, bearing it's razor sharp teeth, that were as long as katana blades. She stood frozen, unbelieving of what she was seeing. There was no evading her death now, the dragon was already upon her. Her mouth opened in a silent scream, for no sound escaped her lips. The dragon collided with its intended victim, hurtling through the wall. Where it carried her off, I don't know.

My knees buckled beneath me, I felt completely drained. As I slumped to the floor I realized I had actually conjured the dragon in its fullest form, putting more of my energy into it than I had realized or intended. The attack had drained me greatly and I doubted I could even create so much as a spark. Chunks of stone from the damaged walls began to fall as my hearing began to dim. The temperature suddenly dropped, and I began to shiver. I was cold and tired. All I wanted to do at the moment was sleep. I knew I should try to get to my feet and away from the castle that was beginning to crumble around me. However, my legs wouldn't move. In fact I could not move at all and I could feel myself fading.

My eyelids became heavy. It was becoming more difficult to keep them open with each passing heartbeat. I could hear nothing. I shivered once more and my eyes slid shut. I could feel myself drifting into unconsciousness, and there was nothing I could do. I hoped and prayed to any who would listen that Sata would find Ryou and get him safely to his father. I hoped that I would awaken to see my family again. Most of all I hoped that the sleep that was claiming me wasn't the eternal sleep of death.

Author's Note: I'm sorry this chapter was so short, but there was no better place for me to end it. Don't worry though, you'll find out Hiei's fate next week. I won't keep you hanging longer than that. :) A big thank you to all my readers and reviewers. Don't forget to check out my live journal to see my responses. See you all next week

- Yami