I give thanks to all those that have been patient. Enjoy as I go off to my brother's surgery. Review and enjoy it for me.
Chapter VI: Capture of the Trickster
Hiei stood in the room with Saki upon the bed. The temptation to release that hold upon them both was apparent, but he knew that this was no time for selfish desires.
Quickly he turned and grabbed her harshly by the arm and lifted her to meet him face to face. He would force her to gain control again of her human form even it be Saya still locked away in a sleep.
"You will not give into the demands of a demon. Stand strong and never doubt your own abilities to fight temptation," he commanded to her.
For only a moment he stared down at her, his piercing gaze burning into hers. He would have none of this control that was holding onto her human frailty. Quickly he grabbed her and began to turn to lead her out when her soft voice pierced his thoughts.
"I understand, and I only wish to help. Forgive my lack of strength. I need to find Kurama," she pleaded.
Kurama had found his way to a grand palace, a palace now laced with dead bodies. No doubt it was the work of his fellow companion, and his need to be the rescuer. Quickly he made haste into the courtyard of the estate to come face to face with an eerie figure. The aura of the man before him was old and powerful, as if he had seen the coming of ages in the Demon realm. His long hair and narcissist posture only emphasized that of a king, a man of great power and demand.
"Who dares to follow in the footsteps of a traitor in my palace? A human I see before my eyes, a human with a demon soul. How amusing I find this to be. What brings you here my young man?" the lord asked with an almost poison laced voice.
Instantly the young human boy had his trademark Rose Whip out and ready as he continued to eye the powerful demon. He knew fully well that this man had no intention listening to his request, because this man only desired conquest and power. There was no peace in his eyes, only hatred and greed.
A smile danced across the lord's face as he introduced himself, "You enter the palace of Lord Shishio my handsome young man. Surely you should show respect to me with at least a courteous bow…Youko Kurama."
A stunned expression grasped Kurama's mind in a flash as he was surely surprised at how this man could know his true identity. No doubt this lord Shishio lived up to his legend in the Demon realm as the former great noble ruler of all the lands within. Legends and myths were all he was now to the fox demon within, but he knew not to be fooled by it any longer.
"I demand to know where my companions are. Those of who are Hiei and Saki," Kurama demanded coldly.
Silently the more powerful demon stood with nothing but his arms crossed and a deathly smirk upon his face. It seemed that was the response given to the human as several guards of various lower class demons surrounded him.
Surely with the smile now across Kurama's face, the lord knew better then to test him with such trifle challenges. His attention began to look around at the various new targets for his rose whip until his gaze came across a most unique figure in the crowd. The tattoo scars across one side of his face, the long red hair, and the piercing eyes only held power and a darker nature. The power behind his eyes was a maleficent nature, but there was some kind of light that kept an appearance of innocence to his face. It was as if he was placed in his position by force, with no will on his side.
From the appearance of the long red hair, markings, and young stature, Kurama concluded this was this general that so many demons had fallen in battle to. This was the young man, standing before him alive, the boy who died a year ago with his mother. Questions swindled in his mind trying to find fathomable answers to his presence, but he could have guessed it was the doing of Shishio.
"Ah, the human with the fox demon spirit has arrived. We've been awaiting your arrival as well Kurama," the sweet voice of the red haired demon spoke.
Then it happened all too quickly, the touch and feel of another's grasp around his neck as the fingers closed around his petite form. His eyes shot to the figure behind him to find Shishio there with a wide grin across his face as he held onto Kurama's life by a thread through his fingers.
"You should watch your surroundings entirely my wonderfully attractive boy. You never know what could slither its way behind you and take hold of your existence," he seethed with poison.
Kurama felt his body suddenly freeze with a fear he could not explain. It was like the very aura of this demon was ensuing fear into him. A fear that was so fierce that it caused him to drop his weapon, his eyes being the only part of him that could move now.
He felt Shishio's other hand slither its way around his effeminate form as it took hold and pulled him into his own form. Chills of pure of fear ran up his spine along with another emotion. An emotion Shishio, as powerful as he was, would know and exploit to his advantage.
"I can feel your inner demon soul crying out in curiosity as to what my power can do. You only derive a plan once you feel the pain and power of your opponent. Truly the nature of a trickster, the power of the fox, and I will surely exploit that nature to my pleasurable desire. For I am not bound by limitations of man or woman, human or demon, and surely not pain or pleasure, because they are all the same to me in the end; servants groveling at my feet," Shishio whispered eloquently into Kurama's ear.
Hiei emerged from the room into the courtyard with Saki in hand to find a whole new horde of guards surrounding what seemed to be the leader. Within the grasp of the tall demon in the center was none other then Kurama. Just like his nature to be caught by the enemy to derive some tactic to defeat them. Hiei knew there was no time to deal with such trivial matters as he instantly drew upon his power of mortal flame to lash out at the weaker demons. Instantly they were all incinerated on his side of the demon leader.
As he walked up to the leader, whose attention was to Hiei, he eyed the other mysterious figure with blood red hair with his third eye.
"Ah, Hiei Jaganashi, you seemed to of failed at your task. You were suppose to finish her awakening, but instead broke the spell upon her. How shameful of you my precious fire apparition," spoke the egotistical man holding Kurama.
Saki screamed from behind, "Kurama!"
Quickly her screaming was drowned out by the laughter of the man before them both.
The nameless man continued, "Allow me to introduce myself Hiei. My name is Lord Shishio, and that dear lady you are holding by the hand happens to be my granddaughter. I only had her here for her safety."
"Hn," Hiei snorted.
"I find it hard to believe you were keeping her hostage for her safety Lord Shishio," he sarcastically continued.
A small chuckle emerged as Hiei watched the demon lord's grasp upon Kurama's neck tighten. This was going too far, and the last thing Hiei needed was Kurama dying on him when he was still useful.
"Then let us have an exchange for now Hiei. You may leave unharmed until I make way to wherever you go, and I shall keep hold of your dearest friend Kurama here," Shishio offered.
From Hiei's third eye he watched as the red haired young man came ever so slightly closer. This instantly had Hiei on alert and blade drawn at him. His demeanor spoke that of a man threatening to spill blood if the boy dared to step one more towards his way. The response he got in return from his eyes was that of a challenge to him and his threat. Hiei was a bit taken back at this foolish boy's attempt at wanting to take him on.
"Ah yes, that is the great general you all might have been hearing from. His nature is as cold and as deadly as you Hiei. You might say he takes after you, and almost looks up to your reputation. That is the reputation you had before you joined Urameshi. Allow me to introduce my other prodigy in blood, my great grandson Kurowa."
The mere mention of the name and title had Hiei in total shock. So his thoughts were true, and this boy before him was his son. The same son that died a year ago within Saya, the woman locked away in the human body behind him. It was like the entire life he created and had within that short time a year ago was flooding back, taking over every sense in his body.
He watched in stunned motion as Kurowa bowed to him graciously and spoke softly, "A pleasure to meet the man who is given the title of father from me. Indeed Lord Shishio does speak the truth. My creation was by a mere miracle by his hands alone, giving me a new life and restoring my soul."
The only thing to break Hiei's trance was that of Saki's tightening hold upon his arm. Her plea through her physical contact surely showed this was all to throw Hiei off enough so that they could capture them all. Quickly he turned back to Shishio with his blade still drawn to Kurowa.
"Hand over Kurama now or dare to face the consequences," he threatened.
Already though the aura coming from Shishio proved that Hiei alone, with the black dragon, was no match for him. This demon was old and powerful, with abilities far beyond the young fire apparition's.
"Leave Hiei…take lady Saki…and go, for her protection…comes first," Kurama tried to plea to him through short breaths.
Mentally he bit his tongue at the situation for he knew that Kurama was right. Their target in the end was Saki, and Kurama knew what came first. Even though Hiei desired to save him, he had to get Saki out of here fast before anything else elevates to putting her in some real danger.
Damn you fox for putting me in this situation, he thought to himself as he quickly sheathed his blade. In the blink of an eye he had Saki over his shoulders and he was already at the front gates of the palace. Leaving Kurama behind, he made his way across the plains of Makai. The safest place he could think of that might still be around was that of Mukuro's palace.
Kurama watched through blurry vision Hiei and Saki leave the palace without being attacked. It seemed Shishio was going to save their capture for later. He felt Shishio loosen his grip upon his neck, his hold still tight around his waist. Kurowa left with so much as a fleeting expression towards Kurama as he left the courtyard with the rest of the demons that were left.
"It seems your dear companion left you to my care Kurama," Shishio began as he turned the human around to face him in a lock.
Kurama replied back calmly, "He did what was necessary for the safety for them both. They are both targets to you because of the power they possess. They are both keepers to the secrets of the darkness technique, the only power that defeated you last time."
A sharp pain jolted through his body as Shishio took a fist full of his hair and pulled down. Kurama's head tilted back as he gritted his teeth in pain.
"Those two are nothing but tools to pass that cursed power to their unnaturally born son. Once he possesses it, and they are dead nothing can stop me. For their dearest child is mine for the control, and soon that dragon will be too and so shall you my dearest Kurama."
He felt Shishio's elegant form lean in as his cold succulent lips pressed firmly down upon Kurama's neck. A rush of energy soaked his skin in the very spot Shishio laced his touch upon, a power that was quickly awakening the fox spirit within.
"To take hold of your form I must make contact with that lovely fox within, but not before I have what I want out of your pretty form here Kurama," he spoke coldly as his other hand touched the soft skin of his face.
Shishio continued, "I take pleasure in my victims. I had once with tearing apart two lovers, one being the future grand mother of Saya. That cursed wolf queen fell in love with some troublesome wolf boy whose confidence in defeating me had him destroyed. Later, I eventually broke apart Saya's mother's soul. Ama was such a fragile child at birth and continued to be until she gathered the strength to put me into a deep hibernation. My proudest moment, a prodigy of mine, a simple slave, removing me from my throne. Now I have my most powerful prodigy, Kurowa, doing my bidding. Soon he will have the power to unlock the Netherworld and I will finish off Ama for her treachery by tearing apart her soul. Then I will tear my way into the Human realm and take what is rightfully mine."
"You will do no such thing," Kurama struggled.
A smile emerged from Shishio's narcissist face as he finished, "Continue to struggle. It will only make the time pass by slower and the pleasure ten times the more enjoyable for me and maybe for you Youko Kurama."
With that Shishio forcefully grasped Kurama by the chin and took hold of his lips with his own. Kurama tried all that he could to fight off the attack of energy pouring from the kiss. This power only drew the curiosity of his demon nature more so, and it sickened him that Shishio was twisting his own nature to his advantage. The feel of the demon lord's hand harshly coursing down his clothed body was revolting, but his demon nature wanted to know the limits of this event. Would his body hold out long enough to avoid being taken control?
Finished with what seemed to be a forced examination, Kurama was thrown to the ground with a drip of blood upon his lips. It seemed through the entire two minute event Shishio had bitten down to taste his blood.
He now lay upon the floor before the demon conqueror like a helpless canine, and he could do nothing to escape as a several guards emerged before them.
"Clean him up and dress him simpler, and try to remove the stench of his realm from him. Once that is finished you may place him in my room shackled up. I wish not to lose my new toy before I finish preparing him for his first outing," Shishio evilly commanded.
Kurama watched as the elder effeminate man turned and walked away as he felt himself be lifted and taken in the other direction. Surely he did not like the sound of the demon's command, and only hoped for a plan to formulate itself in a short time before those events.
To Continue…