Chapter 9

"I do hope this wasn't thrown up by you bastards," Ronin struggled in his hairy prison.

"Oh, shut up," Katsuma hissed. His voice was strange due to his nose being pinched. Why was he pinching his nose? "I disliked your voice ever since I first met you."

"No one to save you now, scared, weak, little bitch."

"Wha—" Nyoko's eyes widen as she felt a pair of hands closed around her neck. "Why?" she struggled out.

"FU—" Ronin disappeared within the mass of hair.

"Because I wanted Kurama for myself," spat out Takara as her grip tightened around her cellmate's pathetic neck. The talismans had been fakes. "Oh, it was so easy. You were so easy to trick into believing and befriending. Hell, you and Reikai's sorry ass detectives."

'It doesn't make any sense,' Nyoko dug her nails into the lightening apparition's hands, trying to pry them off her neck.

"Don't worry," Takara's sadistic voice cooed. "I won't kill you yet. I want you and Kurama to suffer. I want you to break his heart." She pushed Nyoko up against the cold, hard wall. "I want him dead. Dead because he loves you"

"Hi. . ei. . ."

"Oh, Hiei," Takara laughed. Her demonic features seemed to enhance. "Yes, I supposed I thought I fell fro that bustard. But it turns out that he is nothing but a weak lackey of Reikai." Then she grins, showing her canines. "Besides I much rather have that delectable kitsune but sadly he's marked for the dead."

"You talk too much," Katsuma's voice brought back that Nyoko was not alone with just Takara. He kicked at the giant hairball. "His energy's gone. How sad. . .I wanted to toy with him before killing him."

'Can't breathe. . .'

"Keep her awake," Katsuma spoke, stilling pinching his nose. "How are we to put on a show if the leading lady is out cold?"

"Of course. . ." Takara looked over at Katsuma. "I should go. I must prepare our other guests. That human oaf would be easy. The Mazaku and Hiei would take a bit longer. Hmm. . .how about a demon army to keep them from entering?"

"Right. . .I'll go and check on Kai. Either way if Youko kills him, it's no skin off our backs."

"True," Takara tossed Nyoko aside as if she were garbage.

Nyoko gasped for air. She rubbed her throat.

"Here's a present."

The giant hairball containing Ronin was rolled into the cell as Takara existed. "Ta-ta."

'This can't be happening. . .' Tears, hot and salty, leaked through her tightly closed eyes. She was going to be killed. Killed by Shuichi or Youko or Kurama. In a world where demons reside, she was positive that manipulation of humans was a simple task. Ronin was dead. Takara showed her true alliance. Nyoko was weak. If only she wasn't scared. If only she had the courage to move. 'I don't want to die.'

"YUSUKE!"

Would Yusuke come save her?

"NYOKO?!" Nyoko raised her head and suddenly burst into tears. The lights went on. Yusuke hurried over and, not caring, picked up Nyoko. "Why don't you get yourself cleaned up? Then we can talk," he seemed to be soothing her even though she could almost hear the rage building up inside him. "Ok?" he set her down in the bathroom with clothes and closed the door.

No, Yusuke wouldn't. Not this time. He would be tricked. Tricked by someone he thought was a friend.

"Run, run, run as fast as you can, Yusuke!" Takara exclaimed. "You can't catch me!"

"Are you MOCKING me!" Yusuke shouted as he seemed to put on more speed.

Who would have thought Takara could do such a thing?

"That's right," Takara smirked. "Kuwabara, say hi to the ground for me." With that she took a step back.

"Wha-ACK!" Kuwabara fell face-forward as Yusuke, who was unable to stop, collided into him.

Nyoko bit her lower lip as she tried to keep her face straight. She couldn't help it. The scene in front of her was somehow amusing to see especially when they tried to get up. Attempting to get up, the two boys kept falling back down.

Traitor. Takara was nothing but a traitor.

"I know what else you wanted to ask," Takara spoke as the two were walking. It only had been a few hours since the talk in Ronin's place. "You want to know what's up with me and Hiei."

"No, I didn't," Nyoko lied though it was futile. She knew that Ronin was taking that book and putting it somewhere just in case if it was the object that the demon was after.

"You're lying," Takara smiled sadly. "In case you didn't notice or if Ronin didn't tell you, I love Hiei."

"I hear 'love,' not 'loved.'"

Takara sighed, "Hiei's making it complicated for me. I mean he could have said that he wasn't interested. Instead he just insults me."

"Then why do you love him?" Nyoko looked at the apparition.

Takara closed her eyes, "I can't explain why I do. I just wish the pain will go away."

Nyoko had been a fool. Takara was such a good actor. She hoodwinked everyone.

"They're all dumb bitches. . ." Takara referred to the Shuichi Minamino Fan Club near the mall's largest fountain. Her eyes gleamed wickedly over the dark shades she wore. "Watch this."

Nyoko looked and nearly chocked on the burger she was eating.

"OH NO! MY HAIR!!" whined Maya, followed by the rest of her clones. Luckily Cho was not there at the time but rather talking to a good-looking salesman.

Takara laughed. Nyoko couldn't help but laugh as well.

It wasn't fair. There were more reasons why Nyoko shouldn't hate Takara yet her betrayal outweighed it all. 'Then why don't I hate her?'

"Now that was disgusting. Oi, why are you crying? You mustn't give up hope."

Nyoko's jaws dropped as she saw a smirking man in a strange outfit, rotating a red pendent. His wings caught her attention mostly. "Ronin?"

"Actually, now it's Kuronue," the bat demon's face broke out into a wicked grin.

"You're not dead," Nyoko didn't seem to hear him. Instead she burst into tears. "I thought you were dead."

"I'm not," Kuronue pulled Nyoko into his arms. "Hush. Stop crying, Princess."

He was so warm. Nyoko felt almost at ease. That was until she felt him tensed up. "Kuronue?" She peered into his deep violet orbs. Then she found herself pinned to the ground. "Kuro-mmph!"

"You smell so good, my princess," Kuronue tear his lips away from hers and began to nip at her neck.

"Stop!" Nyoko struggled but it was futile. Kuronue was a demon, a strong and powerful one. 'DAMN!' Now she realized why Katsuma kept his nose pinched. It was still the same day as the episode in the school. Now that Ronin was Kuronue, his demon instincts were more overwhelming. "Don't do this, please."

Kuronue stopped. His eyes bore into hers. He whispered, "Don't you recall what I said before at school?"

Suddenly he wasn't on top of her.

"It would terribly hard to get rid of your scent if you've taken her," Takara had reappeared. She smirked. "I do love my powers." She had shocked Kuronue. "Now," she yanked Nyoko by her hair. "Time for your first and last scene."

"You can't be Takara."

"Oh, but I am," Takara laughed, causing the hairs on the back of Nyoko's neck to stand up. "And here's another power of mine. . ."

Nyoko's vision blurred.

"Shuichi?"

No longer was he the silver-haired kitsune. It was Shuichi Minamino. . .Kurama. "Nyoko, are you alright?" his tired face lit up at the sight of her.

'I want to kill you.' "What's going on?" Nyoko hurried over to him. 'I can't kill him. I won't kill him. I must kill him. I want to feel his blood on my hands. Won't anyone stop me?'

"Don't worry, I'll explain later," Kurama seized her into an embrace. "We don't have to worry about Kai."

Nyoko would have wanted this to last forever. 'I don't want this. I want to kill him.' She pulled out the gun hidden in her sleeve. She would shoot him behind his back. . .at his heart.

BANG!

Blood spilled.

"Oh. . ."

"I feel bad. . .you're nothing but a weak human."

Nyoko's mouth moved but no words came out. She clutched her stomach. Warmth spilled through, leaving her to get colder and colder. Something had exploded against her stomach.

"You were going to kill me with this?" Kurama picked up the gun, examining it. "I never realized that all this time, you were the demon behind this. Smart of you to have your memory erased so Hiei couldn't read your mind." His bangs shadowed h is eyes.

Nyoko's eyes widen as she felt the cold metal press against her temple.

"Now don't cry. The pain won't last long," Kurama's voice sounded so sweet and calm.

'This can't be happening. . .'

"I don't want to do this. But there is no harm taking a demon's life."

'I'm not a demon. . .'

Was this how Kurama was to suffer? Suffer from the fact that he killed Nyoko. Was that what Takara meant? Kurama dead on the inside.

"Farewell. May Reikai have mercy on you."

BANG!