Konnichiwa, minna-san! O genki desuka? (translation: hello,everyone. how are you?). Hope you guys and gals enjoy this chpt. R&R! And let me know how I did on the whole Rumaru-attacking-Kurenai thing and Kuronue's reaction. Doomo arigato gozaimasu! (trans.: thank you very much)
Chapter 18: Death's Shadow Lingers
Shinya and Kurenai walked into the largest room in the west section of the underground tunnels. Just as the komori suspected, Rumaru was sitting at the opposite end waiting for them. The demon stood and walked closer to his two servants. "Ah, you're back. Do you have it?" he said directing it towards the silent bat demon. Kurenai pulled the ring out of her pocket and tossed it onto the floor at Rumaru's feet. Shinya moved away from the girl, not wanting to attract any electricity that Rumaru may strike the komori with.
Rumaru cocked an eyebrow at the gold trinket resting on the cold stone in front of him. He held his palm out over the ring and looked at Kurenai. "Well done." The ring floated from the hard surface to the demon's outstretched hand. Kurenai remained completely still and silent as Rumaru came closer to her. "Would you mind telling me how you acquired such a wound?" The man reached out to touch the injured wing, but Kurenai stepped out of his reach. She stared hard at him for a moment then turned to leave. "Where do you think you're going? I'm not done with you yet." Rumaru said with a hint of anger.
The komori halted in the doorway, but didn't turn around. Keeping her temper in check she said, "I'm tired. I am going to bed." She couldn't see the smile forming on Rumaru's lips, but Shinya could. And he knew it wasn't good. He scrambled forward to stop the lightening demon. "She had a rough day. Why not just let her get some rest before-" Shinya's attempt to save Kurenai from anymore pain wasn't successful.
"You stay out of this!" A bolt of lightening flashed and hit Shinya in the chest pushing him back. This caught the komori's attention for she had never seen Rumaru strike Shinya before. She spun around and gasped softly when Rumaru was but a few inches from her face. The hand of the demon shot out and grabbed her throat. "What are you hiding!" he yelled in her face.
By this time Rumaru had lifted Kurenai off the floor. Her legs were kicking wildly, her hands clawing ferociously at the hand squeezing her throat. She gasped for air while her attacker held her against the wall. Rumaru moved his face closer to Kurenai's. "Do you take me for a fool, Kurenai? I know you're keeping something from me." he whispered harshly. The man's grip loosened, allowing Kurenai to breathe. Still keeping both hands on Rumaru's arm, which was now covered in bloody scratches, the komori stopped struggling. "Now tell me what it is you are hiding and I might not kill you." Rumaru continued. He leaned in and planted a light kiss upon the girl's lips, giving Kurenai the chance to strike.
The demon stumbled back staring blankly at the dagger protruding from his abdomen. Kurenai fell to the floor coughing. She eyed Rumaru with surprise as a grin found its way onto his face. Shinya saw this and rushed over to Kurenai. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. "Come on. Get up." The komori staggered a bit, but used the wall to regain her balance. "He is going to kill you, Kurenai, if you don't fess up to whatever it is you're hiding." Shinya sternly told her.
That was true, and Kurenai knew it. She glanced at the filthy demon who was now laughing maniacally. 'He'll do it.' she concluded. 'He'll end my life here and now if I keep quiet.' Her eyes moved to rest on Shinya's angry and fearful features. Not only would Rumaru kill her, but Shinya would do nothing about it, only watch. Kurenai slapped his hand away. "Fuck you, Shinya." The man was aghast at the bat's words. Kurenai went on. "Don't pretend like you care for anyone but yourself. You don't give a damn if I die. The only problem my death poses for you is that you'll need to find another girl to go after." she spat with venom.
"Oh, well said." This received the two fueding demon's attention. They watched Rumaru yank the obstruction from his body and throw it across the room. "So, what do you say, my dear Kurenai? Serve me or serve in hell?" he offered with a malicious grin. His eyes darkened a bit when a smile spread over Kurenai's lips. The komori pushed away from the wall, strided forward a few steps, and rose to her full height. She spit at the man's feet and said strongly, "I would rather die a thousand deaths than continue to serve under the likes of you."
Rumaru expected as much from such a stubborn girl. "Just like the bitch who gave birth to you." he grumbled. The komori hissed at the name he dared call her mother. Rumaru ignored her. "She, too, refused me when I came before her those many years ago with the same proposition. And in return," He let the words hang in the air as recognition was in Kurenai's features. "It was you." she said barely above a whisper before screaming, "Bastard! You killed my mother!" Kurenai launched herself at the man before her, but she never made it.
An electric shock ran through the young woman's body. In an instant it's voltage had multiplied by what felt like a hundred fold. Kurenai had become a living lightening conductor. A cry of ultimate suffering escaped her throat, vibrating off the walls. The armband shattered and the pieces fell to the floor unheard over the painfilled scream. Rumaru's attack had already gotten deep inside her which meant the piece of metal was no longer needed. And it was too late to prevent anymore harm by the time the three men ran into the room.
Yoko, Kuronue, and Hiei stood motionless in the doorway, looking at the illuminated form of the girl they all cared for. She was dieing before their eyes and they couldn't believe it.
Hiei was the first to snap out of it. He saw Rumaru cackling in front of Kurenai. The apparition teleported behind the foul demon and slashed at his neck with the katana. Rumaru moved out of the sword's path at the last moment, but Hiei didn't care that he'd missed. He just wanted to distract Rumaru's attention away from Kurenai.
The kitsune and komori regained their senses when the light disintegrated as Rumaru stopped his lightening attack. Kuronue rushed forward to catch his daughter before she fell to the floor. He looked down with gentle eyes at the unconsious girl in his arms. Kurenai's face was covered in small scratches, and blood trickled down her chin from the corner of her mouth. Her upper left arm had a bruised impression of the armband, and a bruised handprint around her neck. She was also shaking violently from the shock.
"Kurenai," whispered Kuronue. He pushed back her hair away from her face. Yoko came up behind him and looked over Kurenai's injuries. "Stay here with her." Yoko told him. "Hiei and I can take care of-" "No." The komori cut him off. "I will destroy the beast that did this to Kurenai." Kuronue may be dead, but his heart was as alive as anyone's. All the kitsune could do was nod. His friend was right, he had every right to kill Rumaru. Kuronue handed his daughter over to Yoko. He then walked to where Rumaru and Hiei were having a stand off. "Rumaru!" Both demons tore their glares away from each other and gave the bat their attention. "I'm the one you're after." Kuronue said with anger easily recognized on his features.
Hiei did not argue. He was not going to deny a father the chance to confront his daughter's attacker. Kuronue nodded to the fire demon and Hiei bowed his head as well before running to Kurenai's side. Rumaru watched the exchange patiently. When Hiei had gone, the demon turned to face his rival. "Back from the grave?" he questioned with a slight grin. "I had unfinished business to attend to." the komori replied. "Now tell me why you exact revenge upon my child for a crime I committed. Are you such a coward that you can't face your true enemy?" The lightening demon did nothing but snarl at the insult. His wrath fueled by the thought of this entire event, Kuronue continued.
"Tell me your reason for doing this. Explain to me how murdering a young woman will give you the satisfaction that your son's death has been avenged. Let me hear what I want to hear. Make the last words you speak before I rip your throat out be an explanation to your devilish deeds." Fear started to take refuge in Rumaru's gut at the komori's words, which were filled with malice and ultimately promised a painful death. There was no doubt in Rumaru's mind that the demon before him was incapable of ripping him limb from limb. It then occured to him that in Kuronue's present state, there was not the slightest chance of victory for him.
Kuronue's endless black eyes bore into Rumaru's. He soon came to the conclusion that if Rumaru had come after Kurenai then he had gone after Murasaki as well. This beast took the life from his lover's body and almost succeeded in doing the same to his only child. After all that Rumaru had done, there was not a chance in hell that his heart would beat for much longer.
