Chapter XXI: The Wilting Rose of the Bitter Soul
Nightshroud: Ah once Mr. Fipp sees all. I will be changing his personality though. Instead most of his personality will be in Kurama, while he will be more cold and callous. Well, you'll see. Anyway a new pairing will be added! I'm not saying who though. Hehe...
The four ran up the stairs to the next room. As they came closer, there was a burst of rose petals, and suddenly Kurama appeared. He wore a white shirt that had a black ivy pattern along the right side and was sleeveless, but the shoulder area stuck out like a shoulder guard. He had a green cloth belt, green border on his clothes, and white pants that went a bit below his knees. Then he wore white, slipper-like shoes.
"So, you're the ones I have to kill," he said softly.
Tyson laughed. "What, you're going to stop us?" Fayt elbowed him to shut up.
"I will, if you persist. Leave now. I don't want to have to hurt you."
"Sorry...err..."
"Kurama."
"Kurama, well we need to get through here, like it or not," said Reyna.
"Very well..."
He pulled a flower out of his head, and as he held it up the petals began to fly around him. He spun around, and the in the place of the rose was a vine whip.
"Rose Whip!"
The four saw the thorny whip and backed away slightly. He smiled slightly and said, "Well, let's dance."
He jumped into the air and lashed his whip at Tyson. It cut across his chest, then it turned and wrapped around his waist. With little effort, Kurama threw him into a pillar on the side. Fayt ran at him and slashed, but he backflipped over him and lashed across his back.
Reyna ran forward but Tyson yelled to her. "Wait, Reyna! You used too much of your light powers on that Necro Shade. Leave this fight to the three of us so you can recooperate your powers."
Reyna nodded and backed away. Namé ran over and used a cure spell on Fayt and Tyson. Kurama waited for them both to get back on their feet.
"Ready? Shall we go again?"
They both braced themselves, till they realized that he was right in between them.
"Rose Whip Thorn Wheel!"
He whirled his whip about in a circle, slicing and knocking them both to the side. He leaped at Fayt and sliced with his whip at amazing speed.
"Rose Whiplash!"
The whip sliced all over Fayt's body till he fell to his knees. Kurama stood over him, till he suddenly tensed as Tyson ran up behind him. He crossed his arms in an "x" shape, with the fingers extended.
"Rose Petal 360 Defense!"
Four large rose petals emerged from each side and enclosed around him like a shield. Tyson's keyblade slashed into it, but didn't even make a dent. Suddenly the four petals collapsed and Tyson and Fayt were blown back by a blast of wind and razor sharp rose petals.
"Rose Cloud!"
They staggered up, their clothes ripped and slightly bloody. Kurama placed his whip in his left hand, and suddenly a small vine wrapped around his right hand and grew into a leaf shaped blade.
"Again."
He leaped at Tyson, slashing with his leaf blade. Tyson blocked the attack with his keyblade, but Kurama kicked him back and wrapped his rosewhip around Tyson's neck. Tyson sank to his knees as he struggled with it, but Kurama placed a foot against his back and pushed against him. The whip tightened around him, causing the thorns to dig into his skin more deeply.
"There's no use in struggling," he said calmly.
"Shut up!" yelled Tyson, pulling against it. Kurama sighed and pushed harder against his back, the whip digging into his neck. Suddenly a thunder bolt split the rosewhip, freeing Tyson from its deadly hold. Kurama looked over surprised to where Namé stood, her staff still glowing from the thunder spell. His eyed softed at the site of her. He turned away from them and sighed.
"Just leave. I don't want to hurt you."
"Then why? Why are you doing this?" asked Namé.
He looked down, his eyes casting a forlorn look at the ground. "I never wanted to be this. But fate has dealt me a bitter blow. I've been hunted down for my deadly powers. My town was attacked and everyone was killed by mercenaries searching for me. I escaped, and made it to an orphanage where I lived for a few years. But then the Organization heard of me, attacking the orphanage and burning it to the ground. And now I'm a slave to their will. A rose wilting and dying by the bitterness of my soul."
Namé looked at him with pity. "I'm so sorry. But, you don't need to do this! You can come with us."
He turned and chuckled. "A noble gesture, but I'm afraid it's of no use."
His severed rosewhip grew back,and he switched it again to his right hand. Then he knelt down and placed his left hand to the ground.
"Barrage of the Eightfold Vines!"
Vines shot of the ground and entangled Namé, Tyson, and Fayt, holding them in place. They struggled, but couldn't free themselves.
"It's useless."
Kurama threw a rose into the air, that suddenly began to rotate.
"Rose Funnel!"
Razor sharp rose petals shot away from it like a funnel, slicing into the bound three. When the attack died down, the three sagged their heads in defeat. Kurama sighed and shook his head.
"If only you'd given up."
Suddenly Tyson growled and ripped through the vines.
"Wha-"
Tyson slashed his side withthe keyblade. Kurama leaped back and clutched his side.
"Heh...looks like I underestimated you."
"Yeah, you did!" he said. He threw his keyblade and cut through the vines, freeing Fayt and Namé. Kurama stood up and flashed his whip.
"Useless. You gained some confidence, and forgot the lesson of pain."
"Enough words!" said Fayt. Kurama closed his eyes and smiled. He placed his hand to the ground, and suddenly plants and vines emerged from every corner of the room. In a matter of moments, it was like a jungle.
"Don't you see yet? It's useless."
He snapped his fingers and a Venus flytrap enclosed around Fayt. As he fought against it, more vines shot out at Tyson. He cut through them, then ran towards Kurama. He swung his keyblade out, but Kurama sidestepped and began to slash around him at rapid speed. Then he elbowed Tyson in the back, grabbed his arm, and released a blast of rose petals.
"Rose Blitz!"
Tyson fell to the ground, bleeding and panting. Namé ran towards him, when suddenly a tree began to grow behind her.
"Tree Bind Death!"
Two limbs grabbed her and bound her to the tree while it continued to grow. In a moment, she was bound to a fully grown cherry blossom tree. As she struggled, Kurama began to emerge from the side. His rosewhip changed into his leaf blade, and he aimed it at Namé's neck. Suddenly as he caught site of her face he stopped.
"Madeline..."
flashback
An eight year old Kurama was sitting lonely in the orphanage. A blond girl of his age ran up and smiled.
"Hi, I'm Madeline. Who are you?"
He looked slightly shocked at being talked to. "My name is Kurama."
"That's a nice name. Do you want to play with me?"
"Really?" She giggled cutely.
"Of course! C'mon!"
She tugged at him playfully, and as he followed her, a small smile crept onto his face.
end flashback
Kurama's eyes changed, and a look of sadness swept over him. He stepped out of the tree, and it began to shrink till it disappeared. While it did, it let loose its grip of Namé, and she fell forward. Kurama stepped forward and caught her in his arms. He lowered her to the ground, and rested her down. He smiled slightly as he gazed at her face. Suddenly his eyes widened and he jumped back as Fayt's sword whizzed past him. Kurama jumped back and landed by the steps, his back to them.
"Leave now. I have no desire to fight you."
He began to walk up the steps, when Albel suddenly emerged from behind him.
"Too soft to finish them, eh?"
"You should know better than anyone, Albel. After all, you're the only one who's ever treated me with kindness."
"Except for her, huh?"
"Yes."
"Well, I hate to say this, but that list is about to narrow down one."
Kurama turned around, looking confused...
"What do you-"
...when suddenly his eyes opened wide with surprise. He looked down to see a kunai embedded in his stomach. He coughed and looked up at Albel, his eyes pleading for an answer.
"Sorry, kid, but if you won't kill, then you're of no use to us."
"How could...you..."
Albel vanished, and Kurama clutched his stomach as he fell forward. Namé gasped and ran forward, catching him before he fell to the ground.
"Guys, he's hurt!"
Fayt looked away. "So? He's our enemy."
Tyson shrugged. "I kinda have to agree, sis."
Namé glared coldly at them and turned back to Kurama. She cast a cure spell to close the wound up, but he was still injured. He smiled slightly and gazed at her questioningly.
"Wh-why would you...help me?"
She smiled. "Because I can tell that you're a good person. And I want to help you."
Reyna ran over and joined Tyson and Fayt. Namé turned back to them.
"I'm going to stay here with him. You guys go on ahead."
"But, sis-"
"Okay, Namé," said Reyna, motioning to the guys. They nodded and entered through the next door. Namé rested Kurama's head on her lap and stroked his hair.
"He's really...quite handsome..."
She blushed a little which he noticed. He pulled another rose out and handed it to her.
"For you," he said with a weak smile. She took it and placed it to her nose.
"It's so beautiful. Thank you."
He closed his eyes and sighed peacefully, a gentle smile on his face.
"Madeline...I can finally let go. The wilted rose has finally died, and a new blossom is growing."
Nightshroud: Yay! That was one of my favorite chapters in the whole story (since I already have the whole thing planned out). Kurama is so awesome! Wahoo! Anyway, I'm sure you've guessed the new pairing by now, which will definitely be prevalent, but not nearly as important as ReynaxKai. Well anyway, since this chapter was entirely a boss fight, then next one will entirely be a world. So, review and read on!
Next chapter: Dead Rising