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AN: Welcome to the second part of MR. I really hope youll like this chapter as much as I do, even if its this time not funny at all. (Ill never know if you wont comment:-)) Enjoy, Mari.
4 Breakdown
Kurama had never been the one to be easily overwhelmed with emotions. But this time, memories of his family were flowing out from the deepest bottom of his soul where he had sealed them; and were getting mixed with the freshest recollection of Kuronues death. The images merged into one constant screaming stream that tortured him, causing anguish and despair; reminding him of every loss he had ever been forced to face. Still, he refused to capitulate for there was one last thing left to do yet. And after he had accomplished it, the sole reason keeping him alive would vanish.
As he was preparing for the final confrontation, he allowed himself to focus on the memories. Just this one last time.
The heist was a clean one. The mirror had successfully changed the owner - Kurama was holding it in his hands now and the thieves were blowing a retreat, as the demons guarding the treasure got alarmed. Despite that, their escape had been smooth.
Until the chain of Kuronues pendant snapped; the chimera stopped and turned back to get it. He had been caught. At that moment, Kurama turned around to see what was happening behind him. His blood froze at the sight in front of him; his mind shut down completely. He simply refused to accept the reality of that horrific scene in front of him. Kuronues body had been pierced; he was already dying. Kuros last words had been meant for his partner to save himself and run away. And Kurama obeyed. He felt like a traitor, even if his reason kept telling him that there wasnt any other option left.
The situation had already been shattering enough; but the next sensation Kurama got had almost shaken all life out of him. As he had been running away, he sensed the youki of the demon, who slayed his family 300 years ago. At that moment, it occurred to Kurama that Hagane set the trap for him; and Kuronue was the one who got caught and killed instead of him. Somebody died instead of him again. Because of Hagane again. Kurama knew either he or his enemy would die before the day ended. If he was lucky enough, they both would die.
His mind took him then back to his family.
300 year ago, he was just a fox cub. One day, the slave traders attacked the clan his family belonged to, in attempt to capture the kits to make slaves of them. Youkos had always been desired and valued slaves. But there was no way to keep adult ones; they always found a way how to kill themselves, when trapped and stripped of their freedom. His mother Haru knew that and tried to protect him, for he was the only silver youko in the clan - therefore the most likely target of the attackers. She was an experienced and confident fighter; but one of the thugs caught his two sisters and threatened to kill them, if she wouldnt let go of her third and youngest child - Kurama. Before she could come up with a plan, the thug injured Hanako, the oldest one. When Haru had seen that, she used plants to get Kurama away as fast as possible. She had been outnumbered and the thugs killed her, in front of Hana and Sora. The mastermind of the action, Hagane, who was supervising and giving orders, had seen where Kurama was hidden and caught him. Holding the whimpering silver kit in his hands, Hagane told him he was the cause of the slaughter. The last thing Kurama remembered was the murder of his sisters; Hagane ordered to kill them, to show him who his master was. Kurama got furious, bit him in the face, even tore off his flesh leaving a big wound on his cheek and managed to escape. How it happened that they had not caught and found him stayed unrevealed to him; as well as the details of how he was able to survive next days - until Cal, an old vixen, found him and raised him.
Kurama felt Haganes ki coming nearer, together with the energy of at least twenty mercenaries. He finally set his memories free and sent them with the last prayer for his beloved ones to Inari.
So his escape hadnt been as successful as he thought. It made no difference anyway. If Hagane wouldnt find him, Kurama would go back to him.
He was prepared for his revenge though. He had spent 200 years with planning and waiting.
The youko grew three plants - painkillers, and swallowed the bitter leaves. This was the last of preparations he had to meet. The combination of herbs he used was the most effective one, but it also had the most dangerous side effects. Still, to Kurama, it didnt matter whether he would live or be killed; he didnt want the pain of the injuries he was going to sustain be an obstacle to take what he wanted, namely Haganes life. Not only that; he wanted to see him break down and scream in pain, before he would take his life. His soul turned to ice. No power in this world would suffice to hinder him now. He was going to see Hagane suffer.
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Kurama went out of the den, to meet his enemy on the nearby clearing. Hiei was sensing the pack of hunters and could simply figure out what was happening. The fire demon cloaked his energy; he did not have the will to step into the fight. As Kurama had told him before; this was none of his business. And he willingly agreed. Still, he was curious who could be daring enough to be the foxs opponent. An opponent so powerful that the youko decided to wear his death attire for the fight. For that reason, he found a perfect hiding place on a tree, where he would be able to see and hear everything clearly.
Hagane ordered to encircle Kurama. But the youko simply payed no attention to anybody. Except Hagane. His gaze never left the face of his worst enemy. As he spoke, his voice caught Hiei by surprise. Even if many demons had attempted to kill Mukuros general and he killed many as well, he had never heard anybody speak in a tone like Kurama did now. In the same instant Hiei realized that this must had been the enemy Kurama was waiting for.
"After all, the Mirror of Eyram has been appealing enough to attract your attention, my little youko." Hagane looked over the silver fox, assessing his current price on the slave market.
"I knew youd come out sooner or later. You couldnt resist the rumours I created, am I right?" Kuramas voice conveyed merely derision and arrogance.
"I had to see the truth with my own eyes. You have grown up into a beautiful specimen of your breed. I understand now why so many demons desire to own you. And you should know they are willing to pay very interesting amounts for the possibility to indulge in your skills. I couldnt resist offers that generous."
"You really think I would allow you to slave me? After my family died to protect me from you? After Kuronue tried to protect me and died in your trap instead of me?" Kurama was looking at Hagane like he was dirt; mockingly and with disrespect. "You really think I would throw away all of their sacrifices? Hagane; you are going to suffer. Then, you are going to die." Kurama stated matter-of-factly. "I dont think so, kit. I havent forget what you are capable of." He touched the big scar on his cheek, where Kurama bit him 300 years ago.
"Im prepared for you this time." Hagane showed a smug smile and shouted: "Guards, capture him!"
Hiei was staring in silent awe at the scene taking place right in front of his eyes. He had never seen a demon fight like Kurama did now. His fighting style resembled a dance of a death deity; his movements were graceful, accurate and deadly. Half of the guards approached him, but they were all lying on the ground in mere seconds. Hiei saw they were hit by tiny poisonous arrows that looked like a kind of thistles. He smirked. Definitely, the fox wasnt in the mood to play with them. Another five demons were trying to get hold of him in order to tie him. Four of them were sliced with an entirely harmlessly looking weapon made of couch grass; but the fifth one hit Kurama with a blast of energy before he fell dead to the grass. The blast caused a momentary numbness to the silver youko. And it was enough for Hagane to put two magic wards on him to seal up his powers. However, Kurama didnt give up his fight yet. Merely as a result of his will power and with obvious exertion, he managed to tear down one of the wards. Still, the second ward functioned perfectly - Kurama couldnt use the youki inside of his body to heal; consequently, his legs didnt obey him anymore. But as he was falling to his knees, he pulled out two seeds and planted them inside of his own body.
The rest of the mercenaries captured him. Hagane showed him a priggish expression. "You havent learnt your lesson very well, little youko. Have you already forgotten who your master was?"
For Hiei, the scene was surreal. He saw Kurama - the free, crazy, caring and powerful - on his knees in front of a slaver, defeated. Even though the fire demons reason kept saying that it was not his issue to solve, his blood was burning in his veins.
From his position, the angry dark demon was having a perfect view on Kuramas face. It was a face of somebody who knew what hell was like and wasnt afraid to pass the experience onto another. To Hiei, Kurama resembled a messenger of destruction. No, not a messenger. An angel. Perfect, cruel and cold. The fire demons senses were replete with the taste of foxs desire to revenge and torture.
Hagane grabbed the thiefs chin. "I see you are not as hopeless as it might seem; you are already on your knees."
"But I can do so much more than that..." Kurama told and raised his hand to touch Haganes cheek. Instantly, two of the slave traders guards grabbed his hands, to prevent the kneeling youko from harming their chief.
Hieis stomach almost couldnt take the image of what Kuramas words and gestures implied, even if he knew it was a part of a plan how to kill Hagane. Hiei could sense how the spells impeded the flow of silver foxs energy, and he saw how he planted the seeds inside of himself. If Kurama couldnt use his energy and manipulate plants at the full range of his skill, he needed another way how to pass them on his victim - like to touch him. Hiei immediately forgot that he was just a beholder as his brain came up with a possibility how to help Kurama get rid of the slaver.
Without unmasking his energy or disclosing his hiding place, he set the rest of the guards on fire. Kurama used the given chance instantly, without musing upon the reason why the dark flames were bursting around him. He gripped Haganes head with both hands. One of the plants pierced Kuramas palm and penetrated the slavers temple. Hagane screamed in agony, since it was suddenly not only the physical pain he felt. Through the plant, Kurama fed him his own mental suffering, all at once. Thus, the slave trader broke down under the load of Kuramas helplessness, despair, loneliness, guilt and grief for each loss of a dear person he was forced to face in his life. Still, this was not enough for him. Kurama managed to expel the second seed out of his system to lay it to the bleeding temple of his prey. The seed reacted instantly; it spread its roots along the Haganes veins, feeding on his blood and draining his flesh.
Hiei finally left his hiding place. He did not sense another demon energy nearby, so he assumed Hagane was the last survivor of the pack. Well, survivor wasnt the correct word, considering his state. He was collapsed on the ground, not able to breathe anymore. Kurama didnt release him yet. Even if he did, Hagane would never be able to continue living. He was a wreck.
'And Mukuro thought I was cruel...' Still, Hiei couldnt blame the fox. If somebody had done what Hagane did, he wouldnt deserve better fate like that. Knowing that the cracked chimera died on his last theft sounded like a bad joke; but finding out that the same person had already killed the foxs mother and sisters was crushing.
He didnt wonder Kurama was taking all possible steps to find him. Even if the thiefs methods were a bit bizarre, they were effective, for he managed to lure out his enemy. But somehow, Hiei could tell that this turn of events didnt make the youko feel any better.
The young apparition was the more stunned, the more he was thinking about the whole situation. All three Makai rulers agreed to make slave trade illegal in their territories; but if demand existed, there was always an offer. Mukuros territory had been almost cleared of slavery, but a couple of gangs were still functioning. Hagane was the head of the most significant of them. His influence wasnt limited to one of the territories, though; he had connections all over the demon world. Mukuro hated slave trade. She had been sending her spies and warriors to get him, but the majority of the spies had never come back. Hagane was paranoid, powerful and slippery like a snake. Nobody was able to trick him; nothing was worth enough for him to leave his hiding. But Kurama proved this time to be the one with wits.
However, his ferocity and cruelty were at least unsettling. Hiei had never seen the kitsune like this; nor had he felt anything alike when he was watching him. Now he knew with absolute certainty; Kurama was not only worthy of his reliance, but also of his respect.
Haganes frame was only a pile of bones and dried skin lying on the ground beside the kneeling frame of kitsune.
Hiei focused his gaze on Kurama. He approached him cautiously like a wild animal - he didnt want to risk upsetting him again. Then he tore down the last ward, to enable the youko to use his energy like before. However, something wasnt working right. Kuramas emotions were subsiding, but Hiei couldnt sense his youki. He had a lot of small cuts; some of them were still bleeding. The wounds on his arms seemed to be deepest, but then the fire demon spotted another wound across the thiefs chest.
"Why are you here?"
The fire demon was almost startled by Kuramas voice. It was so soft; yet he could hear the traces of arrogance and something else, more hidden - defeat. Hiei didnt answer. Instead, he remembered what the youko said about healing and transferring youki and made a movement to lay his hands on the injured thiefs chest.
"Dont do that!" Kurama tried to push the smaller demons palms away, but all he could accomplish was loss of balance and fall to the ground. "You dont need to waste your youki."
Hiei looked at him like at a lunatic. "You need energy to heal. You are weaker than a baby."
"There is no need to heal." Kuramas voiced faded into a whisper: "There is nothing left to live for."
The words of defeat the fox demon had just whispered infuriated Hiei to the marrow. "Baka! You dont need any reason to stay alive!"
While saying those words, he forced the link into an active state, knowing that Kurama probably didnt have the strength to stop him. He probably didnt have the strength to guard the parts of his mind either, but Hiei didnt care. He opened his memory up, to show Kurama what it meant to live without purpose or hope. To live, even if your own family decided to get rid of you before you were born. To live, even if your existence was forbidden, unwanted. He opened up completely. The fire demon showed Kurama every single memory of his childhood, even his very first recollections of sensing his twin sister in their mothers body. He was born with awareness, so he could perceive the fear and hate his birth aroused in the Koorime. As a forbidden child of an ice maiden and a fire demon, he inherited the gender and powers of his father. Thus he was a threat for the Koorime breed. The maidens simply threw him out of their floating ice island, hoping the fire infant wouldnt survive. His twin sister Yukina had been luckier; she was a copy of their mother and therefore welcomed by the Koorime elders. However, Hiei did survive. He had no reason to; but he did. He did not care whether his existence was unwanted. He was The Forbidden; yet his will to live had been stronger than the power of the rest of the world to kill him.
As the stream of memories subsided, he felt Kuramas mind reacting, opening up. Kurama was showing him his family. Then the day when he learnt to hate - the day when he got to know Hagane; then Kuronues death. Hiei could perceive the immense sorrow occupying the kitsunes soul. He had never learnt to love being close to another person and care for them as much as Kurama did; therefore had never come so far as to grieve for somebody, or to show concern or compassion to anybody. Hiei felt the flow of recollections fade; so he withdrew from the thiefs mind. For a moment, he got lost in the turmoil of images he had been receiving from Kurama.
But as the fire youkai opened his eyes, he could see Kurama fell unconscious. The uproar of remembrances, the load of long-suppressed emotions coming from the both ends of their connected minds was too difficult a task for the youkos already weakened system to cope with. He was dying.
For the first time in his life, Hiei got really scared. He laid his palms over Kuramas core in desperate attempt to feed him some energy. He refused to accept that Kurama might die, then and there. And he refused to move his palms away without knowledge that the silver fox would survive. After few withering minutes Kuramas energy started to flow; and Hiei had to face a different, and up to the moment unexperienced challenge: to accept the fact that after all, there was somebody he cared for.
End of chapter 4
AN: So, what do you think? Oh, and if somebody knows how to force this system to accept all the apostrophes and other marks from the number line of my keyboard, then tell me please, coz I really dont know. Anyway, thanks for reading! Mata ne, Mari.