Yep, its the second chapter. Since I've already managed to wrangle a few reviews out of ya'll, I decided to post the next chapter and see what you have to say about Kuronue's introduction. Well, hope you enjoy this next installment.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kuronue or Kagome.


Staring Death Down

Chapter2

He didn't know what hit him. One moment he was flying, enjoying the quiet night with his best friend and the next...he was falling to the ground. He couldn't move. Why couldn't he move? His wings wouldn't move!

He felt the almost blinding pain as the arrow dug deeply into his left side, the pain so great that it caused his body to go into lock down mode. He couldn't move a muscle without it hurting.

"Kuronue!" Yoko cried, worried not for his own life but for the life of his partner's. They were plummeting so fast towards the earth that the impact would hurt greater than the arrow. "Move Kuronue! You have to fly!"

"I-I can't!" Kuronue growled back painfully his teeth chattering at the pain of his wound. He desperately tried to slow his descent by spreading his wings, but only succeeded in driving the arrow deeper into the wound. "The-the arrow is in my wing, I can't remove it."

"What!" Yoko cried. "Shit!" Yoko closed his eyes and held tighter onto his partner. Oh well, at least they would die together. Life just wouldn't be the same without his best friend. Maybe they could tear it up in hell or heaven or wherever fate decided to place them.

They hit the ground hard, the impact throwing Yoko several yards away and sending Kuronue into a deep crater.

And then all was silent.

Yoko opened his eyes. His first thought was, I'm alive. His second thought, where's Kuronue?

Groaning he sat up, clutching his head and bruised ribs all at the same time. Mentally and without trying to move around too much, he assessed his body for damages. He had a broken leg, three broken ribs on the right side and one on the left. His shoulder was popped out of place and there was most definitely a wound on his head, as he could feel the wet blood dripping into his hair. He had several abrasions, cuts, and bruises and probably some internal bleeding. But he couldn't care about his injuries right now. The only thing he was concerned about was finding his partner.

Inari, was Kuronue all right?

Clawing his way to his feet and grunting his pain, he got onto his knees breathing in harshly when his smashed ribs rubbed against each other. "K-Kuronue!" He called, wishing his voice didn't come out sounding so weak and hoarse.

When he didn't hear a sound, he feared the worst but knew he had to keep going. His sensitive ears picked up the faint sounds of someone speeding quickly towards him but he ignored it for now. He had to find his partner. He had to find Kuronue now!

Climbing to his feet he finally spotted his downed partner and was relieved to know that he was moving, but barely. He stumbled weakly over to his partner and collapsed next to him. His eyes traveled over Kuronue's figure, noting the blood spilling out of the deep wound in his wing. He cringed when he realized this was the worse he'd ever seen his partner look. The bat was breathing hard, his eyes closed and his teeth gritted in pain.

"Kuronue, can you hear me?"

Kuronue moved a bit and strained to open his eyes. Stunned and almost faded purple eyes were only half opened as he tried to glare at his partner."Of-of course I can, idiot," he spoke wearily. "I'm not dead...yet."

Despite the seriousness of their wounds, Yoko couldn't help but chuckle. He should have known. Kuronue wouldn't die so easily. Suddenly Kuronue shrank back. "Damn it! He's almost here, the ass hole. I have to...get up." Yoko's eyes glazed over in worry as Kuronue struggled valiantly to his feet. Yoko stood up too and both demons stood panting and watching...and waiting.

Suddenly Yoko's head shot up, spotting the hunter closing in fast. He could only make out a blur, but could definitely feel the strength in the hunter's energy. He was moving too fast. If only he had even half his strength left. He knew neither he nor Kuronue would be able to keep up at this speed, with their sustaining such injuries. At the moment his injuries wouldn't kill him, but without his energy he couldn't fight. Kuronue must have sensed this as well and turned to Yoko.

"Well, I suppose if this is it, I should probably tell you I'm the one who stole your Inari statue last year. If I die and you survive and want it back, I hid it in a secret compartment in my room. Even you don't know about it, so you'll have fun trying to find and break into it."

Yoko's eyes widened at the sudden opportunities but he smirked back. "That's okay. Remember when I told you I was going out last month to steal the Staff of Heads and I seduced the king's daughter to get it?" Kuronue wondered where Yoko was going with this confession. The staff was safely in the vaults of their castle, resting neatly with all the other collected staffs.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I lied."

Kuronue's eyes widened. "You mean you didn't seduce the girl this time?"

Yoko smirked, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Negative."

Kuronue had a feeling he didn't want to know the answer to the next question but he asked it anyway. "So then...who did you seduce?"

"His son."

And as Kuronue stared at the approaching enemy, all he could think about was...

"What!"

"Well, here goes," Yoko and Kuronue fell into defensive stances, awaiting the out come of this fight.


Well, there it was. Sorry its short but I had to end it there to give you a nice cliff hanger. I'd like to thank all you pretty people who bothered to read my story and even bothered to review it. I hope it was entertaining. If it wasn't...well screw you! Anyway thanks for reviewing and watch out for the next chapter.

Ja ne

Kura-kun's-lovr