Well folks, uh, the Internet didn't die after all. Somebody paid it, but thought it'd be funny not to mention it. Urgh. Well, don't I feel like Grandfather from Little Big Manright now, toward the end where he was preparing to die and then didn't. And if you haven't seen that movie... then you'll have no idea what I was talking about in that last sentence, but that's okay. So where have I been then, if the Internet did not die? Uh... sorry about that. Been reading some books (Anne Rice rocks, and so does her son Christopher!), and writing some stuff. But hey, I'm back, right? I wouldn't abandon you guys; what sort of person would that make me?
"SUICHI!"
Kurama woke with a start, his entire body numb. That voice, his mother's. She sounded desperate, terrified. What was going on?
A thud at his doorway made him jump. "You're still lying there?" a low voice sniggered. "After hearing your precious 'mother's' cries? What sort of son are you?"
He studied the one who owned the voice, and nearly gagged. It wasn't human. Shaggy, grease-colored hair; eyes a dull mustard; and long, pointed teeth stained yellow with Time made him not a particularly pleasing demon to look at. The youki he emitted, though not incredibly powerful, felt toxic. However, what concerned Kurama the most was the putrid, metallic-like stench coming from the stranger. Blood. He absolutely reeked of blood and death.
The Fox bristled when he caught whiff of another scent mingled with the demon's. "Where is my mother?" he demanded. The creature laughed and stepped into the room, dragging something behind him. He swung an arm carelessly, and Shiori landed sprawled out on the floor. Kurama stared, appalled, then glowered at the intruder. "Who are you?" he growled.
"Oh, forgive me. I forgot that we haven't properly met- though I believe you're familiar with my affiliates? After all, it was you and your friends who killed them. As to who I am, my former alias was Butcher S, but you may know me by my more recent name. I am the Mushiyori Butcher."
His heart skipped a beat. Butcher. This one was involved with the group they'd fought. The ones who killed Hiei. "And I suppose you've come to complete the deed?" he asked coolly, keeping a concerned eye on his mother. Thankfully, it didn't appear that the demon had caused any harm to her.
The Butcher smirked. "Beautiful AND smart. Yes. You see, I firmly believe in finishing what you start." Whether to frighten Kurama or simply out of habit, he whipped out a serrated-edged dagger and began stoking the smooth edge, all the while giving the Fox a cold stare. Kurama stared back. "I'm aware that my men managed to off one of your team mates before dying. Now I'm finishing their work. Starting with you."
"Shiori! Suichi!" Kazuya, having assured that his younger son was safe, came charging up the stairs to aid his wife and stepson. The Butcher narrowed his eyes, grabbed Shiori by the hair, and hurled her at Kazuya. With a shriek, the two toppled down the staircase.
"NO!" Kurama shouted, leaping out to the hallway. He made to help his mother, make sure she was all right, but the Butcher slammed him back into the wall. The demon stared, then laughed.
"Well, well, I see someone else finds you beautiful too. No wonder I've never seen you wandering the city streets. They don't react well toward male pregnancy on this side of the Old Barrier, do they?" Kurama didn't answer. He was more concerned with his mother's condition. She and Kazuma hadn't moved since they'd hit the landing. "Did that anger you?" he jeered, following Kurama's gaze. "Then why don't you fight back? Unless the reason is that you already know you can't? That swell in your middle is too much of a hindrance to take me on yourself. And I've noticed your spirit energy is nearly nonexistent. I must applaud your determination though. A lesser demon would already be dead."
He was right. Were he a lower-class demon Kurama would have died months ago. Consequently, his body was too weak to fight the Butcher. The Fox was not in a favourable situation.
"Suichi!" His mother had come to. He watched, horrified, as she started up the stairs again.
"Stay down!" he pleaded. She wouldn't listen however, and the Butcher held his dagger as though to take aim. "NO!" he screamed, desperate to keep his mother from harm.
Shiori's efforts to reach her son were crushed when tens of hundreds of vines shot out of nowhere, growing in a criss-crossing pattern, sealing off the second floor from the first. "NO!" she screamed, trying in vain to break through the vegetative barrier. "SUICHI!"
The Butcher listened to her muffled cries, then became sidetracked by a thump next to him. He looked over and smirked. "My, my, did we waste out last bit of energy on her?" he asked in a faux-concerned voice. Kurama didn't reply, he couldn't. He was surprised he was still able to comprehend the demon's words. Perhaps that HAD been the last of his energy… But he had a duty, a duty to keep his mother safe at all costs.
Kurama was only half-conscious of being picked up, ofthe Mushiyori Butcherroughly picking him upand carryinghim back into his room. His head cleared enough for him to scream at the top of his lungs for his mother to get out of the house. Then everything grew blurry, he being only half-aware of everything happening afterward.
The Butcher dropped Kurama onto the bed and looked him over. "I can allow this," he said, more to himself than to the half-conscious Fox. "Make no doubts that I will kill you. But I don't recall ever establishing a rule stating that the only thing I may inflict upon you is Death. No, that will come later."
His hands drifted to the waistband of Kurama's pants.
Yes, I know, dreadfully short, and most likely a cruel place to leave off. But hey, I'll be around here for a while still, until I leave for California. But don't fret, that won't be for a week or so, so there's still time for even several more chapters, assuming you all are so kind as to leave me some reviews. Yes, I am a review-whore, but there areworser things to be addicted to. Later.