Sorry I had to wait to update until today! My computer wouldn't cooperate with me!
I grabbed the next vial, which was rich purple in color, and uncorked it. Taking a deep breath, I drank it straight down, wincing at the bitter taste. Almost immediately I felt latent energy just flowing to my disposal. I felt my body change. My hair lengthened, as did my nails- into claws. My canines became fangs. Demonic tattoos swirled along my body, a vivid blue, mixing with the chains that Koenma had marked my skin with. My senses became keener.
I hesitated when I felt the source of power coming from the Anima- concentrated at where it's heart would be if it were a real, breathing creature. My head shot up milliseconds before I started to run, pushing Suzaku out of the way before he was stomped on. Rolling to my feet, I grinned at the former Saint Beast. "Well... Things are starting to get interesting, at least."
He stared, apparently in awe. I blinked, and looked down at myself. Oh. I inwardly smacked myself on the forehead. This was the first time he had probably seen me in my demon form. I am such an idiot at times... Pulling him to his feet, I cocked my head to the side and smirked, "Careful not to get stepped on... I went through hell, courtesy of Koenma, to get you back to life- I don't want to do it again."
Suzaku returned the smirk, "Only if you don't, Yusuke."
Grinning again, I looked back towards the Anima. My assassins had managed to slow it down somewhat, with out getting killed. That was surprising. I bit my lower lip; the hum of power that was coming from the beast now was giving me a headache. Was it the source of the spell holding it together? Probably, there was no other power source in that thing but the protective spells around that one area were going to be almost impossible to break... And that was kind of a giveaway that the Binding Spell was there, but why hadn't the others said anything? Did they not sense it...? I shrugged it off.
What did I have with the kind of power to stop it...? I subconsciously began tapping my fingers anxiously on my sword hilt. What kind of focus could I use to- I am such an idiot. I pulled the sword and sheath from my belt. Alone, the sword won't be strong enough, but... I grabbed four runes from my pouch. Well, here goes.
"Beru!" I shouted at the assassin, "Get everyone out of here!"
He glanced at me, mouth open to protest, but I silenced him with a glare
"Hai!" He turned to the others. "You heard the Shujin! Move it!"
As the assassins dragged my other allies away, I concentrated my energy into the runes, pouring it into the symbols drawn onto the paper, calling out the power stored in the frail slips.
I smiled slightly at the irony as I fingered the runes. When I had... Acquired... the information to summon this attack... It had nearly killed me... And now... Heh... I stared at the elegant script. Chances were... Using this spell would kill me. If not summoning it, then using it very well could. This attack... Was harder to control than Hiei's Dragon... And that was saying something.
As they flew out of my hand and circled in the air, I fell to one knee, gasping for breath, that... had taken more out of me than I had... originally thought...
Fire swirled around the southern one, along with lighting, sizzling and crackling, reaching out towards the eastern rune. Thunder responded to the lightning's touch, green light surrounded the rune, with the heavy call of the thunder. Blue light surrounded the north rune, light spheres of blue levitated around it, hanging effortlessly by the slip of paper. The western rune was barely visible through the harsh winds surrounding it, though the rune itself was untouched, in the eye of the tornado as it hung in the air.
The elements mixed and contorted chaotically. I slowly rose to my feet, and gripped the blade hilt tightly in my hands as I waited. Closing my eyes, I reached out to the energy, feeling it for the right time. Seconds later, it had come.
Eyes snapping open, I flung the sheathed blade into the air. Everything moved at once, the lighting flashed out, hitting the blade as the blue and green lights surrounded it, with the flames running along the length of the blade sheath. Thunder roared as the lighting writhed around the weapon, it fell back to earth, the runes burning up, the elements being drawn into the sword as they went through the binding runes on the sheath. I caught it as it fell.
I froze as I felt the power within the weapon and was forced to use my remaining energy to keep that power from bleeding out, even through the wards. I inwardly gulped, but kept my exterior calm. Would I be able to wield (and control) the Dragon, now that it had been infused with the elements...? I glanced at the sheathed blade, and could almost feel the dragon's gaze upon me, evaluating me. I smirked; well... we'd just have to see, now won't we?
I glanced up at the Anima as I called out to the others, "If this attack doesn't work... Consider me down."
Raizen nodded, as did the others.
Using the last bit of my energy in this form, I grabbed two more runes. Activating them, they flew to the Anima, attaching to it. One slowed it down; the other neutralized some of the protective spells and wards around it. I fell completely to the ground, loosely grasping the sword in my hand, my vision spinning as I closed my eyes. I vaguely felt someone catch me before I made complete contact to the ground. Blearily opening my eyes, I looked up to see Suzuka.
"There... Is a red vial in my belt... Grab it..." He did as I requested/ordered.
"Before I do anything else with it..." he lifted the vial so I could see it, "What is it?"
I inwardly groaned. He was wasting time I did not have... Though the look of curiosity on his face got the better of me. "An energy summoner. The most powerful one. We assassins use them for an extra spurt of energy, whether it is to escape from a target's home, to get a boost while fighting, or just to have enough energy to activate the self-destruction rune etched onto the assassin's back. They force latent, untapped energy to flow to a usable position. But... The more you drink, the more poison you intake... The ingredients in them are lethal if taken in large doses..." I prayed he hadn't noticed me take the other two vials...
Nodding, he opened it, and propped me up against him so I could drink it without spilling any. I grimaced as I drank it. It was worse than the other two combined... But the feeling of strength rushed to me quicker than the other two had. I blinked. In that split-second, my body changed again. Black became white, brown became gold, more tattoos appeared, my body was full of unused power.
I stood and dusted myself off. Nodding my thanks to Suzuka, I gripped my blade and put one hand on the sheath. Pulling the blade out, I waited for the dragon's reaction. Black flames, mixed with lightning and other sparks of the other elements, writhed around the blade, the dragon's shape taking form. I watched it impassively. The blood-red eyes bored into mine, daring me to do something. I waited. The energies faded and I let out a breath of relief before looking up at the Anima.
Tossing the sheath to Karasu, who was standing somewhat close to me, I grabbed one last rune, it circled around me. Grinning, I looked up at the colossal monstrosity in front of me. Well... Here goes nothing. Charging forward, I leapt onto its knee, and then jumped up to it's shoulder. Racing across it I let out a battle cry as I plunged the blade into the Binding Spell, flames licking around the spell, searching for a weak spot. Closing my eyes and gritting my teeth against the energy slashing my skin to bits, I poured all the power I had into the sword, channeling it into the Binding Spell, slowly ripping it to pieces. I let out a slow hiss of pain as the energy streams thickened as the spell weakened. One or two souls joined the torrents.
I nearly screamed as another torrent ripped its way out of the Anima and sliced right through my abdomen. I felt blood gush from the wound. I glared at the Anima as I felt my strength begin to fade. Concentrating, I searched every recess of my mind for any unused power, anything that could destroy this thing.
Other's POV
Lighting and fire swirled around the Anima as it screeched in pain. Bui blinked as he recognized the fire, how was Yusuke able to wield the black flames of the Dragon?
Genkai closed her eyes as she honed onto Yusuke's power signature. She inwardly groaned as she felt her apprentice's energy weaken as she used up power that she did not have and as her body was torn into pieces. She sighed. Damn you, Yusuke...
Yusuke's POV
I buried the blade in deeper, growling, as I forced more of my remaining strength into the spell. It was getting steadily weaker... I felt it pulsate once, before...
"Shit!" I yelped, pulling my sword out and leaping away just before the spell exploded, tearing the Anima to pieces. Souls flew up into the sky. I braced myself as the explosion hit my body, cutting me even further. My vision slowly started to go black. I closed my eyes as I fell. I had lost that much blood...? I knew no more.
Jin's POV
He saw Yusuke leap away, just before she was lost in a bright, violent light. He ducked down as the energy flared up and was gone. The souls had vanished. He glanced up to see Yusuke falling, her sword clenched tightly in her hand, leaving a crimson trail in the sky. "Yusuke!" He leapt into the air. Getting behind her, he fell with her, gently getting her horizontal to the ground, he got beneath her and held her close as they slowly fell back to earth, courtesy of Jin's wind. As they landed, He set her on the ground, her blood covering his chest, staining the crisscrossing straps red.
Her breathing was shallow; he could barely see any skin not covered in blood. Gashes of every various size imaginable covered her body. Genkai put her hand to Yusuke's forehead and channeled her energy, healing the most serious of the wounds. She fell back, panting, "That's all I could do. We... Must get her to Yukina..."
Jin nodded and lifted her once again. "I can ge' 'er there th' fas'est." Chu nodded in agreement.
"Go then." Toguro ordered. Jin did not need to be told twice as he rocketed into the air, holding Yusuke close to him.
He flew faster than he ever had before, taking the full punishment of flying at such a speed. He gritted his teeth, eyes flashing. He had to get Yusuke there as soon as he possibly could. Reaching the city gates, he didn't slow down until he reached the palace ones. Dive bombing into the throne room, he barely managed to land without breaking anything. Panting heavily, he saw Touya and Yukina coming towards him just before he blacked out.
Yukina's POV
"Yusuke!" The koorime knelt beside the fallen hanyou as Touya dragged the exhausted Wind Master away from the two so Yukina could work.
Yukina bit her lip. This was almost beyond her skills. Concentrating, she slowly and carefully healed the wounds, ignoring the blood that dyed the Toushin's current pure white hair red. She blinked. The wounds themselves were healing without her help, though she greatly aided it. But... Something wasn't right. Yusuke's temperature was rising. She put a hand to the former Spirit Detective's forehead. She had to pull her hand away. She was burning up... Yusuke opened her eyes and grinned weakly.
"Tell Nike to get me the antidote, when he gets here. He'll... Understand what I mean..." Yusuke's eyes closed as she slipped back into unconsciousness.
Yukina examined the blood covering Yusuke's body. Her eyes widened. How did Yusuke manage to get that poison in her system!
Glossary:
Toushin: Battle Demon, I believe. At any rate, it's what Yusuke is.
Well... It's a little longer than normal...