Description: Suzaku has resigned himself to his fate after being defeated by Yusuke. But there maybe be a destiny that just wont let him die. Please read and review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Suzaku or YYH, I'm just a humble fan!
AN: Well, this whole plot has been in the back of my mind ever since I saw the saint-beast arc so I've finally decided at 2 in the morning to write it cause I have time. Don't you just love early morning writing? I warn you now that it is by far one of my darker fics.
Fallen Phoenix
By FireCatRich
Chapter One: Ashes
Purple eyes stared into the dying flames. Rubble strewed about the once grand castle spire was testament to the desperate battle that have taken place. The crackle of the fires and gentle breeze of the incoming storm teased his sensitive ears. Body face down upon the cool stone, the lord of the Saint Beasts lay with no more movement than the occasional struggle breath.
Shrill cries and maniacal laughter drilled into his scull. A sluggish blink, the only indication that he was still alive, did little to ease the throbbing pain behind his eyes. The incessant laughter grew louder until it drowned out the wind. Even the act of tilting his chin down to see made his nerves come alive in a symphony of shape pains and deep aches.
From the stairs they poured like angry bees from a hive. Lesser demons swarmed around the first of the fallen Suzaku duplicates. Their hunched figures garbed in the dirty earthen robes paused, checking to be sure the dangerous youkai was dead. White teeth glistened from beneath the shadows of their hoods as clawed fingers of innumerable pairs reached out to grasp the body. Razor like talons sliced into the still warm skin of the first of the seven identical Saint Beasts. Each pair of hands pulling in separate directions. Bones separated at joints as the tendons tore apart. Ripping muscles and shredded flesh spilled blood upon the stone floor and across their lesser demon selves. The cloth, last to be torn ripped apart with the body. Steaming innards breathed a foggy breath into the chilled air. Torrents of blood spattered the stone beneath the body which was ripped apart at the waist as the lowly beasts set about their feast.
Flaxen hair snatched up in a cruel grip was used to secure a piece of the carcass for one of the many predators, the neck making sickening snaps as the head was wrenched this way and that to separate it from the shoulders. The crunch of long bones and the slurp of bone marrow joined in the macabre melody.
Too weak to move, Suzaku could only watch in horror that previewed of his near future. The twisting of his gut threatening to evacuate his stomach was defeated only by the fact he was too weak to wretch. His tongue slightly swelled already from dehydration, he snapped together his sharp teeth to rally his failing reserves.
The squabbles of the lesser demons reached a fever pitch as the chest cavity was pried open to reveal the bloody lump of flesh that was his heart. Desperate cries echoed through out his mind as the second of seven was prey upon. Life not yet gone from the body, he called out for help in his last moments. Squeezing his eyes shut Suzaku tried to turn away as the mental cries were cut short in an abrupt snap. His neck torn out, not but the spine still connecting his head to his body, the second Suzaku died begging for help from his twins. Their demonic smiles, shinny rows of ruby daggers, the blood lust swept in an upward spiral as the third and fourth of the duplicates were unceremoniously butchered. The only saving grace being that they were both dead before the hoard tore them to bite sized pieces.
Forcing his battered body up, Suzaku struggled to move. Too badly injured to hope that hiding would buy enough time for recovery, the second thought came with reaching the edge of the tower and plunging to a relatively painless death. Shaking his head, he cursed his weak and suicidal train of thought. Wavering focus granted him only enough to know that the edge was too far from him to crawl anyway. Cruel fate had ended his battle with Urameshi in the relative middle of the room. Shoving his shoulder into the nearest of chunks of debris, he ground his skin into the stone as he inched his way up into a to a more or less standing position. Wavering balance and searing pain threatened to beat him back down as he opened his eyes. Flecks of red fluttered across his vision, one of his antenna had been shattered, the reddish armor pulverized. Cursing under his breath, he let his gaze wander back to his to be executioners. Damn Urameshi for his pathetic aim.
It was one thing to be killed by a human, a powerful human, one that could have possibly been a worthy opponent. But another to be torn apart and devoured by faceless underlings. Not but a few hours past he was their god. As all in the city of apparitions, he was the most powerful and hailed as their glorious leader until the fall of Maze castle.
The two dozen or so lesser demons had swelled to fifty or sixty individuals. The last of the duplicates fell into shadow. Delirious and confused thoughts floated through his mind as the stared down upon his whole body. Falling upon him like a plague of locus, the new comers up the band made quick work of the dying lord.
Taking a shuddering breath, the last Suzaku stood alone. The gaze of many of the vermin fell upon him. Weary of him, unsure if he was a threat, they gathered in a semi-circle, trapping him. Six had not been enough to slate their hunger, the seventh surely could not fend off so many in his injured state. Seething and shifting the demons watched with venomous gazes as his chest heaved another labored breath. None were willing to step forward yet and risk death in the last of the Saint-Beast's attacks.
Smiling to himself, Suzaku felt the impending doom wash over him as the rain started to sprinkle down upon his skin. Even if he had the energy, the severally damaged antenna would making hitting a target impossible. The odd thought of meeting the six other duplicates on the other side fluttered through his mind. Fleeting thoughts of Muruge, his long time faithful companion flashed before his eyes. It is strange what one thinks about just before death. Weakened knees slowly gave out as he resigned himself to his fate. His raw skin scrapping against the abrasive stone as he fell onto his knees. Once vibrant violet eyes glazed over, consciousness faltering as his will let it slip away. The press of bodies drew closer, so near that their shadows fell upon him. Their grasping hands reaching out to claim him, swallow him whole just as they had the others.
"So, this is how it really ends. This is how I die..." His dry voice whispered on an exhaled breath. Letting his eyes slip shut, his body pitched forward into the waiting darkness.
To Be Continued...
AN: I'm tempted to leave this as a sad little one shot. I guess I'll leave it open to be continued depending on the reviews. So please review!