Riz: My, this is a surprise to say the least. I had no intention of updating anything for at least another two weeks, but hey, here I am now, with an eight paged thing that took me four hours to write. Ne, too lazy to go into details.

To Peeka-chan: (Ears still ringing from the three hour yelling) Oroooo. Feel... dizzy... But thank you so much. I did not think that it would be good, even Yuki's owner had critism of how I wrote her tragic death thing. It's good to know that at least there's someone who liked it.

To Asilin Kheldarson: Eh... Sorry about your dagger, Peeka-chan took it. (Sweatdrop) I updated, and here it is. Thank you for still following my story, however strange or weird things it had went through.

Chapter Nineteen: Gates of Solace, Cycle Reborn

Climbing out of the piled boulders Hiei wiped blood away from his cheek. Two ribs broken, the right arm most definitely fractured in several place. One lung felt punctured and internal bleeding was just around the corner. Legs... would hold, but for how much longer as he pressed their speed the fire apparition did not know. Gasping lightly for breath crimson glare traveled cross the battleground.

Damn that fox. Damn all foxes, for that matter. The furred race is troublesome at best, and this one proved to be the shine of its species. The hand holding his katana gripped the blood-soaked handle harder. Not that it would help; the sadist youkai had long lost feeling in his right arm during the struggle. But as blooded gaze swerved to those who were still on their feet a wry grin whispered across his face. At least he wasn't the only one; those two were losing by the yards for every passing second. Hn, that's one good thing he suppose; no one could say that he's weak because he's the first to take a break in the battle.

Something crashed to his right, slamming into a gigantic tree before falling to the ground. It was a hard hit, judging by the satisfying depth of the indent left on the trunk. Coughing as the lung desperately squeezed for air amber fell upon Kurama.

"Kurama, get over here now! Heal her damnit!"

The lips tugged at a grin. Here the youkai was within inches of her death and yet still have the strength to curse at the kitsune. Hiei chuckled dryly in his mind. Even if eternity ended, Roviel's temper would still not change. But the amusement soon ran out as he looked at Yuki.

The human was dying, not even Hiei was sure that he could have survived an injury that serious. Although Kuroku's sickle did not bite deep, the kitsune's immense Youki was more than enough to sign the contract for the human's death. He watched as Kurama tried desperately to heal the girl's wound. Blah, the kitsune should know better than to waste Youki on something that's impossible. Then, as the fire apparition's eyes were just about to turn away, they stopped and stared.

Youko Kurama, legendary Prince of Thieves of Makai and renowned for his cold ways, was fighting to hold back tears.

It wasn't the sight that astounded Hiei, but rather the actual meaning of it. Youko, the Youko… No, he wasn't meant to be like this, groveling before a fallen human female and crying. No, Youko was strong, calculating, and most of all, able to keep a clear line between reason and emotion. But here he was now, like this. How could someone watch and not feel pity, this former symbol of the perfect youkai acting like a human. All the former glory was gone, leaving behind only a sad old fox in it's place.Crimson flared at Koruko's golden form. It was all his fault, this youkai who with his actions degraded Youko to such pathetic lows. He was the cause of this; he was the one who have taken the thief's dignity away from him and shaming the silvered fox. Spitting out blood from his mouth a dangerous smirk touched Hiei's face. He'll pay, this fox. Heaving onto his feet the fire apparition spoke back to Youko as he passed.

"Thief, we can't hold him off much longer."

A simple statement, reminding the kitsune of the situation they were in, reminding him to collect his thoughts and fight. As shadowed fire danced along his arm, Hiei raised his head, smirked, and readied himself to die.

-

Wow, I'm floating. Wonder if I'm dreaming or something… Hey, what the hell? Wha? Oh don't tell me. Oh fuckin hell; I'm dead!

I'm… I'm really dead… Does this mean I'm going to be taken to Reikai and be judged? Does that mean I'm just going to be one of those papers that Koemna's always stamping at? Is… is this it? Is this really the end? But I can't go! I want to stay here, with Youko. I don't want to leave him… I want to stay and spend the rest of my life with him! Not now, not when it had barely began!

Youko… Youko, are you crying? Are that really tears I see? You never cried before, not ever, not even when I was twisting your ear and yelling on the top of my lungs. I know that it must have hurt you, I am so sorry. But I'd never thought… never thought, that you would be hurt so much because of me. You were always teasing me just for the fun of seeing me mad. I'd always thought that… it was only a game to you. How could I have been so blind? How could I have not seen? I'm sorry that I never realized, that I never saw…

-

No no no! Not again! Not this time! Tears of frustration formed as he tried desperately to keep Yuki alive. He failed last time, ran away to leave Yusuke to die, and by Inari he wasn't going to watch as another life dies before his eyes. But try as he might Kurama knew that there was no hope.

The battle was forgotten, all forms of life disappeared from his world. Time didn't exist, nor did the thought of hurrying and help those who were fighting against Koruku. No, there was nothing, there had nothing. It was all meaningless to him, to the lost soul.

Slowly the red glow of Youki died down from his hands and with it guilt and despair stretched out its leeching vines, tightening its suffocating hold over his soul. He didn't struggle; it was all his fault, he deserves whatever he was feeling right now, his soul was no… Arg!

The flow of dark thoughts broke as someone crashed into the kitsune, knocking the wind out of him. Lying stunned on the grass a flare of crystallized azure snarled at his sight. His lips twitched as a familiar growl reached his ears.

"I always knew I would be on top."

The weight lifted as Roviel pulled herself up from the kitsune who had acted as a very strategically places cushion for her fall. Pulling himself up with a groan the weary gaze turned to Roviel. Had it that hard? He hadn't realized just how much they gave in order to keep Koruku's attention and attacks away from Youko and him. Only now, as he stared blankly at Roviel did the kitsune truly comprehend how bad of a situation they were in.

Blood covered her; matted in her hair, dried on her skin, soaked into her clothing. Even her scent had been tainted with it; metallic sourness overriding the youkai's scent. Was it her blood or someone else's he didn't know. He could feel her Youki, sluggish thing on barely enough to keep the body from fainting, let alone attack. Anger boiled up inside, screaming at the self for wallowing in one's self-pity while others were throwing their lives away. As if she felt the scrutinizing, one eye turned upon the kitsune.

"Pft. If you think I'm in a bad shape, take a look at them."

He followed the direction of her nod. Oh Inari, how could he have been so blind as not to see this? How could he have not seen just how close to death they were? Hiei was completely and utterly drained, only sheer willpower kept the fire apparition from collapsing. Kuwabara… The sharp ears caught the sound of bones grinding as the human moved. His body was on the brink of total breakdown, the kitsune could almost imagine Kuwabara's heart giving out in his mind. How… how could he have missed? The hatred of self increased, anger raging in his vision as Kurama lunged forward at Koruku, red bathing his mind… only to stop in his tracks as a blur of white sped past him.

-

Oh Youko no! Don't go! You don't know how powerful he is! I felt it, when he attacked me, I know! You won't win!

I know what Koruku's like, how powerful he is. I saw it, when he killed me. I saw the impassive mirror of his eyes, the steel intention in his mind. I saw it, and I know. He won't stop, not for anything or anyone. He has only death in his eyes, a cold logic of which emotion can not touch. There was no flicker in his eyes, no shadow of hesitation or uncertainty. There was no place of failure in his mind; the word "defeat" is alien to him. And because of this, he is going to win, because he knows nothing else but victory.

Please Youko… Please…

-

Steel flashed through the air as the whip came lashing down. Side-stepping, one hand rose to block the attack with that of its own. The kama flew from the hand, curving and slamming the whip out of it's assault. There it twirled back to Koruku, who caught his weapon casually as the fox inspected his opponent.

Landing from his failed attack Youko snarled at his half-brother. The thief was very much surprised at his sibling's strength he did not show it. Instead he circled Koruku, golden eyes never leaving that of his siblings.

"I see you've grown, brother."

Koruku did not respond to the remark and simply watched in seemingly leisure as the thief's hunting prowl. The two kama held loosely in each hand, twin curved blades shimmering dull grey under the clouded sky.

"And I see you've been training as well."

He continued to ignore the silver danger, bored gaze lingering on Hiei, who was using all his will just to breathe. The mind strayed for a moment, wondering just how much longer the dragon-master could hold on for.

"Have you been training all this time so you can take revenge upon me?"

It was now did Koruku's attention finally settled on Youko, a slow tug of the lips breaking out as he shook his head.

"No brother, you think too highly of yourself if you think that I had been raising my powers purely for the sake of defeating you. No, my eyes were turned onto other matters… You know the abyss back there?"

One curved blade pointed at the direction where the rescuers had came from.

"You know how it had always been told that there is no bottom to the gulf? How it is an infinite stretch of void which passes through all the levels of Makai and beyond, which if one fell through, they would eventually find themselves in a place where Time, Matter or Space existed?"

The pale gold eyes crinkled in laughter as Koruku tilted his head at Youko.

"I never did believe that, for nothing can go on forever. And so when Shikari gave her life to the chasm, I decided to follow…"

The thief suddenly gasped, one hand reaching into his white sash before fishing out a golden bracelet. Staring at the jewelry Youko gaped at his brother.

"Are you saying that you have reached the bottom of that thing?"

Now it was Koruku who circled around his prey, the calm voice ringing on with his story.

"How could I not have gone down, when she had also? I wanted to know that she hadn't disappeared into some matterless dimension as the rumors told. I wanted to know if she really did die that day and was not still alive. I wanted to know, if it had all really ended, for once and for all."

Something in Youko's mind clicked into place as realization dawned on the thief's face.

"Are you saying that you trained just to see?"

"Ah yea, that is exactly what I mean. Surprised? I don't blame you; I remember us trying to climb down the thing only to have nearly not our lives to the chasm.

But I did reach the bottom. How many centuries it had taken I've long forgotten. But I did reach the bottom. Down there it was a different world altogether. Youkais dwelled in the darkened depth, but after so many years, those who lived in the blackened world beneath have evolved away from those on the world's surfaces. They were like beasts, mindless creatures scuffling on all fours in the search of food and the eternal hunger for power. But powerful, the raw surge of Youki so strong that it was nearly impossible to breathe.

Death brings out the best or worst in everybody. Forced to defend my own life against those wretched creatures I created many new attacks in my fight against Death. It was surprising really, the many powers of Youki that are still to be discovered.

But that's not the point now is it? One day, while was walking through the catacomb of rocks I was suddenly attacked by a group of the youkais there. While fending them off I accidentally slipped and crashed into what seemed to be a pile of rubble. It wasn't when I had finished killing off the attackers and was preparing to leave when the scent touched me.

It was from beneath the pile of rocks, her scent which still lingered in its dying breath upon her remains. Although faint, I knew that it was hers. Then I found that, the bracelet which was her first share from a hunt. It laid there, dull and pitiful against the white of her bones. When I saw that, I knew my search was over, that all my questions were answered. And so it was my time to return to the real Makai.

It was startling, amusing almost, how my new-found powers had the kind of effects that they did on the general population of youkais. I was considered among the highest ranking youkais in known history, and in the question of pure Youki, was able to hold my own against those of lords of Makai. But I didn't care for any of that, power wealth or rank. So I drifted over the years, traveling wherever my steps took me, and for the first time in too many years, felt free. But that all changed when I heard the news.

She looked like Shikari, the rumors said. And from what I had picked up, had a personality which was alike as well. I could not help but ask if you had forgotten about Shikari and tossed her death from your mind. I couldn't let that happen, allow you to forget so easily and live out the rest of your life in carefree oblivion. So here you are, before me, with another death on your conscious, another life which have been cut short because of you."

-

Blinding light flared from Koruku, searing the eyes in pain. The light had not gone when the sound of a blade coming down to the left whistled through the air. He blocked before jumping away from the attacker while the eyes slowly saw color and shape again. Blinking furiously Youko growled at Koruku who was standing a short distance away, smiling faintly.

"See? I told you that I had learnt a few tricks while I was at down there. This is just one of them. I do not wish to kill you, nor any of your companions. What I desired to do is done, and that is all I want."

"Ha, that's rich for you."

Gasping for breathe Roviel pointed her glaive at Koruku.

"Now listen to me you bastard. I had to come all the here and risk my ass just to listen to your voice? You've got to be dreaming. I came here to help Yuki and I am going to help Yuki. Now that she's dead, I'll be sure to see to it that your soul would be so shredded that even those in Hell would be wincing when they see you. Got that?"

-

I know I shouldn't be laughing at a time like this, but I can't help it. She's nearly dead herself and yet still somehow manage to find the energy to curse at her opponent who isn't even scratched. Heh, only Roviel could find the energy in a time like this.

But even that won't help them. Her, Hiei, Kuwabara, Kurama, everyone's pushed to the edge of their limits. And even Youko won't last much longer. I can feel it, how his attacks are weaker, how his speed has slowed down, how it takes a tiny bit longer to recover each time.

Go, leave! Run while you still can! Why do you still stay here; it's impossible for you to win. If you stay, only death would be the result. Please; leave now!

-

Gritting her teeth Roviel set her foot deeper into the ground as she readied herself for the next attack. It came, the clash of steel against crystal-like material as one kama curved down upon her. Her arm twisted, pushing the blade to one side as the glaive was twisted down. The second blade swiped at her, seeking the opening which she had created just then. Grinning, Roviel sidestepped, moving enough so that the blade would pass before her…

Blood seeped out from the wound. Falling to her knees one hand covered the injury. How did that happen? The sickle clearly missed! How?

"Like I said before, I learnt not a few ways of manipulating Youki. The first is the ability to turn my power into light, as I demonstrated before. Aside from that I had also found a way to place my Youki inside unanimated objects, like my kama, for example. I can place Youki on the sickle blades so that they create to be an extension to the metal itself. Being invisible, the extensions can not be detected. Those who think they have evaded my attack, like you, are always caught by the Youki blades."

Amber orbs whirled onto him, a biting retort on her lips. Instead, blood fell in droplets as a cough wracked her body. What? The injury did not go that deep, and yet it felt as if her whole side was falling apart? It was as if something was eating at her from the wound.

"Let me… guess… Another trick…?"

"Quite. Right now the residue of…"

"Rose Whip!"

As another muffled cough erupted behind one hand, the lips curved slightly. The fox, playing hero. The amusement was cut short as blood seeped through the fingers. Ah well, as long as the red-head doesn't get himself killed…

-

Breathing hard Kurama threw away the slashed end of the whip. It was looking more and more impossible to defeat Koruku, but he'll have to try. Or at least, as the jade gaze saw Youko's stumbling form in the corner of his sight, give the rest of them enough time to pull together. Then again, perhaps he was dreaming.

"You interrupted my conversation in a very rude manner."

He whirled around to Koruku's slim form, green eyes narrowed in anticipation. The enemy had proved that he had many tricks up his sleeve. And judging by what the kitsune had seen earlier, Koruku's more of a close-combat fighter. Then if that's the case… He concentrated hard, gathering what remained of his Youki into his fists and felt with satisfaction when the energy took form. Opening his palm Kurama prepared for his attack.

"Petal Dance!"

The rain of blossoms swirled around his form for a moment before streaking down upon Koruku, a cyclone of red tearing down onto its prey. If it hits, then even someone as powerful as that youkai would not come out of it unscathed. Three, two, one!

The petals poured down in an eruption of ripping Youki. They fell about Koruku before engulfing the youkai's form within its deadly beauty. Did it work? Kurama took one hesitant step towards Koruku, but was suddenly thrown back by a blast of overpowering Youki. What?

-

Blooded glare narrowed as the blast pushed against his body. When the wind finally cleared Hiei's glare turned into a stare as he watched the figure of Koruku, apparently uninjured, grab a few remaining petals with his hand and crush them to red dust.

The others, were they alright? Kurama looked like the one who was hit the hardest by the blast; being the closest meant that the kitsune was blown head over heel and tossed carelessly near Kuwabara's painful form. Roviel and Youko faired better; the two managed to find shelter behind trees and boulders when the wind hit and was now regrouping with Kurama and Kuwabara. Well, a reunion was it? He smirked. Oh yea, he could just feel the love now, the fluffiness mixed with the scent of blood and death. Pathetic. Hn, might as well go join the idiots.

Stumbling over to the group Hiei tensed as he saw Koruku approach slowly. Up till now the golden fox had not once made a single advance on them but instead defended while they attacked. And if he had been able to defeat them simply while defending, then the fire apparition did not want to see how it'll turn out if Koruku was the only attacking and them defending.

"I see that none of you are going to voluntarily leave. Very well. I do not wish to do this, but you leave me no choice."

The youkai stopped before them, the impassive eyes looking down at the group. Raising one kama, Koruku smiled sadly at them.

"I am sorry that it had to come down to this. None of you deserve to die; Youko's the one at fault and he ought to be the only one who is punished. If all of our souls will be reincarnated, I wish that in our next life we shall be on friendlier grounds."

Youki gathered on the blade, a sphere of multi-colored clouds shifting and swirling in the bright depth. Seeing this Hiei stepped out, the heart squeezing painfully as dark fire swirled around his arm one last time.

"No Hiei, stop! You'll die!"

"Fox, do you think I'm as dense at orange-top over there? Of cause I know that."

His attention was now focused solely on the growing sphere of concentrated Youki.

"If that hit's us, we'll all be dead. Better to die fighting than to be eaten up by some cheerful ball of happy-looking Youki."

"…Stop."

Hiei glared at Kuwabara, the one who had commanded him to halt his attack. The glare turned into confusion when the human gently pushed Hiei to the side and planted himself in front of the group.

"What are you doing idiot? You'll get killed!"

Orange Reiki gathered ever so slowly in Kuwabara's hands, a final relic of the Spirit Sword.

"…Trust me"

Koruku raised his hand, the ball of energy hovering for a second before charging towards them.

"Spirit Sword!"

The orange blade flared bright as Kuwabara raised it high over his head and brought the blade crashing down. But the sphere of Youki continued its deadly course towards them. The sword faded from Kuwabara's hands.

"...Trust me."

A gap suddenly appeared before the human, black void of nothingness twisting wider with every moment. Koruku's attack came upon them, tearing the ground and air in its roaring wake then suddenly, disappeared, swallowed by the empty chasm. A gigantic explosion roared from the void, the out-rush of wind suddenly reversed and started sucking air into the hole. Before anyone could react, they were pulled into the unknown darkness.

-

What? Help, I'm being sucked in! SOMEONE!

Arg, hold one damnit! Oh, no no no!

Help! Help!

What is THIS? I don't want…

Hel… Wait… why…?

Why is this… so familiar?

Is it death again? Was dying like this?

The darkness… I've been here before…

It' so cold… Wait, I'm feeling cold?

Something's… changing…

So heavy… I can't…

Why is this so familiar?

Where am I?

Yes! (Dances) I've finally, finally finished with the whole tragedy death plot. Oh I feel soooooo happy!

This chapter was origionally going to be two chapters long. But I couldn't be bothered to write two chapters and since I felt guilty for posting such short chapters before this, I decided on one single long update. Anything else to say here? Um... Oh yea! I'm going to explain the whole void thing Kuwabara made with his sword and the explosion and everything. Please, endure for a week or two longer, please? I've got major tests coming up, so I'll have (have) to study, no matter how much I don't want to. (Sniff). Um... what else? I knew I was going to say something else... Ah, of cause; this is the last chapter of Act Two. I have named the three acts, and here they are.

Act One: Past

Act Two: Future

Act Three: Present

So the next chapter will be of Act Three, where (spoiler) you'll meet Roviel's real nature and life.

P.S: Anyone catch the pairing hint I put in here? (Wink)