Author's note - a big thank you to Silver Spirit Fox, yuki san1, Graphospasm, Dyani91, and WorldsAngel for reviewing; Dyani91 and SilentlyxBroken for favoriting; and SilentlyxBroken for story-alerting & author-favoriting! Every little thing counts! hee :D Also another round of thanks for everyone that's reading this story. Summer is almost here, which means more time to write and more updates! yeah! But until then... FINALS! DUN DUN DUN! so because of those stupid tests and the fact that i need to start preparing to move out of my dorm, i won't be able to update for the next two weeks. Luckily, i decided to post this chapter before i started studying since i had a feeling alot of you would go crazy if i just left it hanging with the last chapter. Anyhoo, until summer break ~ CHOW!
Chapter 5: Deaf
Kurama gasped for air as he struggled to push himself up to his knees. Sensui was powerful… too powerful, even for them. Kurama glanced to his right to see Hiei getting to his feet and once more summoning his Sword of the Darkness Flame. Kuwabara was also on his feet, his Dimension Sword drawn and gripped tightly in his hands. No matter how much stronger Sensui was they weren't going to give up. They weren't going to stop until they'd killed Sensui and avenged Yusuke…
We must attack in unison, thought Kurama. It was their only chance.
Hiei nodded, having picked up his thoughts, and they only waited for Kuwabara to make the first move before Kurama and Hiei sprang into action. While Kuwabara attacked from the front, Hiei and Kurama came from the sides.
"This is starting to get repetitive," said Sensui in a bored tone. "Can't you three come up with a different strategy?"
"How about you try dying for once, you punk?" shouted Kuwabara as he swung his sword. Sensui dodged it easily, causing Kuwabara to cut a rift in the dimension where the human had been standing seconds earlier. "Hey, hold still!"
"Yes, I thought you wanted something new? Death sounds like a fine twist." Hiei appeared behind Sensui and attacked with a barrage of thrusts, causing Sensui to back up and dodge the flamed sword.
Kurama saw his moment and lashed out with his Rose Whip, intending to break Sensui's footing and throw the human off balance. However, Sensui suddenly leaped into the air and flipped over Hiei, kicking him in the back and sending him skidding face-first into the floor. Kurama didn't waste what precious seconds he had to check on Hiei. The fox lashed out again at Sensui, relying on his whips ability to hit multiple targets at once to land a solid blow. However, Sensui easily weaved in and out of the tangle of thorns, avoiding the attacks as if they were nothing.
Annoyed at the setback, Kurama released a barrage of rose petals. He'd used this move once before, during the Dark Tournament, but that had been but a mere shadow of what he could unleash now. Stronger than he'd ever been before, the Fox Demon was able to summon a thousand rose petals – each so sharp, they could slice through steel.
The whirlwind of petals surrounded Sensui as Kurama continued to assault the human with his Rose Whip. It should now be impossible for the human to escape. With a flick of Kurama's wrist the rose petals attacked. Sensui's eyes widened in surprise, giving Kurama the opportunity he needed to lash his Rose Whip around the man's ankle and hold him in place.
"I've got you."
Sensui retaliated with a smirked and gathered spirit energy into his hands. "Sorry, Kurama, but your bag of tricks won't even scratch me."
Kurama sensed that the amount of energy Sensui had gathered into his palms was strong enough to not only blow away Kurama's whirlwind of rose petals but also probably kill the Fox Demon too.
This might just be the end of him, thought Kurama as he watched Sensui throw the energy into the heart of the spiral of rose petals.
"Damn," Kurama growled and leaped away. But he knew he wouldn't make it. The blast was too strong and too large. The explosion was blinding and sent Kurama flying. He felt Sensui's energy sear his flesh and pain overwhelmed his mind.
Then everything went black…
oo00oo000oo00oo
When Kurama slowly came to, he felt a cool breeze blowing through his hair as smooth wood pressed against his cheek. The wood smelled of oak mixed with some floral scent…
Kurama took another whiff and at last recognized the flower – it was Chrysanthemum.
Am I dead, he wondered even as the earthy scents soothed his mind. It was intoxicating and Kurama reasoned that if he was dead, then it wasn't so bad. The scent was calming and otherworldly. How strange…
Kurama took a deep breath and this time he noticed the stink of death and decay that the wood and flower could not quite completely mask. The putrid scent was that of Demon World – which meant Kurama was not dead. But where was he then?
Kurama opened his eyes and found himself lying on his side with his lower half hanging over the edge of a piece of wood. The Fox Demon blinked and looked over the edge of the wood to see the Plateau of the Beheaded lying fifty feet below. And if that wasn't enough of a shocker, a sudden gust of wind suddenly threatened to throw him off whatever this thing that was floating in the air. He tightened his grip on the piece of wood and prayed that he wouldn't fall to his death.
Out of nowhere he felt a hand grabbed hold of the back of his tunic, haul him up, and shoved his torso forcefully into the wood, steadying his body so it didn't slip off. Kurama turned to his right and his eyes widened in surprised. He was lying on the base of a wooden oar and sitting on the handle was a girl he had never seen before. She had long, braided, dark red hair draped casually around her shoulder and she was wearing a red and white kimono. One of her hands was fisted in his shirt while the other was steering the oar through the sky. He couldn't really see her face but he did notice a particularly nasty scowl on her lips. Kurama didn't know who this woman was but from what he could tell, she seemed to be one of Spirit World's reapers. And she had obviously saved him from Sensui's attack.
Down below, a column of flames continued to burn where he had been standing earlier. This unknown reaper must have swooped down and saved him before the blast could incinerate him. Had she been sent by Koenma to aid them? But what could a reaper do against someone as strong as Sensui?
"Who are you?" he asked.
The woman turned her head and Kurama recoiled slightly. The look she gave him could have made snakes shiver in their dens. Kurama had never seen eyes that held so much malice, and all of that black hatred was trained solely on him. Her stormy grey eyes swirled with fury, hate, and vehement hostility. But why was she giving him that look? He'd never done anything to her.
"Stupid fox, how dare you come to Demon World like this!" she shouted furiously. "You almost got yourself blown to bits, you moron!"
"May I ask why you're so angry with me?" asked Kurama, confused.
"Because that body doesn't belong to you!" she snarled. "If you damage it one more time I'll rip you spirit out and drown it in the Acheron!"
Kurama blinked in confusion. What was the Acheron? And what was she talking about this body not being his?
"I'm sorry. I don't know who you are or what you're talking about but thank you for saving me. Now I must return to the battle. Excuse me." Kurama rolled off the oar and dropped down to the rocky plateau, summoning and using the leaf of a plant as a glider so he could land safely on the plateau. The relief on his companions' faces was evident as they had thought he'd been killed in the blast.
"Hey, you okay, Kurama?" asked Kuwabara.
Kurama nodded. "I'm fine. Let us continue."
"I see you're in a hurry to die. I would have thought you'd rethink this a bit after that last brush with Death, Kurama. But, if you really must insist then by all means, come. I'll make it quick," said Sensui.
"Touch him and I'll blast your head off, human!" shouted the girl as she suddenly zoomed down on her oar.
"What the hell? Is that Botan?" exclaimed Kuwabara.
"No, you fool. Are you blind? It's obvious she's a different reaper," snapped Hiei but he was also watching the girl closely as she pulled up in front of Kurama and turned to face Sensui.
"An agent from Spirit World?" Sensui cocked his head to one side, eyebrows raised in surprised. "Is this all Koenma has left to send after me? His pretty little ferry girls?"
"Can it, you," snapped the reaper. "I'm only going to warn you once –put one more scratch on the Spirit Fox and I'll personally drag your soul to Limbo and chuck you in myself! His life belongs to me. If anyone's going to kill him, it's going to be me, are we clear?"
"Oh? Interesting…" muttered Sensui as an amused smile played across his face.
"Geez, Kurama that girl seems really pissed. What the heck did you do to make her want to kill you so badly?" asked Kuwabara in a low whisper.
Kurama shrugged. "I have no idea. I've never met her before."
At those words, the girl rounded on him, eyes blazing in fury. "So you don't remember, huh? Well, how about I beat the memory back into you, asshole!" she snarled as she hopped off her oar and stomped towards him with the piece of wood raised threateningly over her head.
"Hey, hey! Calm down, lady!" said Kuwabara and jumped forward, blocking her path. "Can't you two settle this after we beat Sensui? We're still in a middle of a fight here."
"I don't care! You and Mr. Shorty over there can fight your useless battle. I've got a bone to pick with this asshole right here," she snapped, shoving past Kuwabara.
When the human reached out and grabbed her arm, trying to stop her, the reaper rounded on him with a furious snarl and swung her oar. The wooden paddle collided with the side of Kuwabara's head with a bone-crunching whack, drawing blood, and sent him spiraling five feet through the air. Then, without breaking strides, she continued on her path towards Kurama with hell-bent fury in her eyes. She was out for blood… his blood.
But before she could reach him, Sensui released a small blast of energy that exploded between them, sending both of them flying backwards. Kurama managed to stay on his feet as he skidded across the dirt and he turned to see Sensui smirking again.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but Kuwabara was right; we are in a middle of a fight and I would hate for your attempt at revenge to go unfinished. Shall we continue, Kurama? Hiei? Kuwabara?"
"Yes, lets," growled Kurama.
"This doesn't concern you, woman. Get back on your oar and go home," snapped Hiei, leaping forward with his Sword of the Darkness Flame once more in his hands.
Kurama followed after him but he heard the girl shout, "Get your silver-tailed ass back here, you stupid fox!"
Kurama ignored her as he pulled a rose from his hair and transformed it into his Rose Whip. Hiei attacked Sensui from the front while Kurama lashed out from behind. Their weapons converged on the human at the same time at such blinding speed, there was no room for him to escape. And yet, somehow, Sensui managed to slip out of their trap, causing Kurama's Rose Whip to wrap around Hiei's sword instead. They didn't even have time to untangle their weapons because Sensui suddenly reappeared behind them and with two swift kicks, knocked both of them to the ground.
"Hey! What did I say about touching the fox?" shouted the girl.
"You're a nuisance. Be gone, weakling. You're not even worth the energy needed to kill you," sneered Sensui. "At least with the fox, I can be entertained to some degree before I send him to Spirit World."
"Entertain? I'll show you entertainment!"
She pointed her left index finger straight at Sensui as a bright yellow light gathered at her finger tip. The lightshow was uncannily similar to Yusuke's Spirit Gun, noted Kurama. But suddenly a column of light shot out from the top and bottom of her wrist, forming a crackling Spirit Bow.
Kurama gaped as the girl's energy sky rocketed. He didn't know the reapers from Spirit World were able to use spirit energy like this. Botan had never exhibited any form of offensive abilities. Was Botan just the exception to the rule or was it this reaper?
"What the hell is that thing?" asked Kuwabara, gaping at the painfully bright light that was now blinding all of them. "That thing is brighter than Urameshi's Spirit Gun!"
The girl drew back the string of her bow as an arrow made of energy formed. "Amuse yourself with this, jerk! Spirit Arrow!"
The size of the arrow tip was enormous! Taller than Sensui, the Spirit Arrow shot through the air at a blinding speed. Kurama had never seen such an impressive amount of spirit energy before. It was close to the level of an S-class demon!
The arrow hit its mark, colliding with Sensui's chest, and exploded with so much force it knocked the rest of them back several yards. Kurama lifted his arms up to cover his face as dust enveloped the battlefield.
"Did – did it work?" asked Kuwabara through gritted teeth as he too shielded his face from the flying debris.
"We'll see in a few moments," replied Kurama, watching the cloud of dust anxiously. Had the arrow been enough to defeat Sensui? No, Kurama doubted the ex-Spirit Detective would be defeated so easily, but perhaps he had been injured. It would certainly even out the battlefield a bit.
Suddenly, through the dust, a figure emerged. As the wind blew the dust away, Kurama was dismayed to see that not only had Sensui survived but it also looked like he'd gone unscathed.
"What the hell? Is this guy like a tank or something?" growled Kuwabara.
"Obviously his armor is far superior than any ordinary piece of cloth," said Hiei, balling his hands into fists in frustration.
"That's correct, Hiei. My Sacred Armor is so strong, even a hundred blasts like that couldn't put a dent in it. The only thing that ball of light did was push me back an inch from where I was previously standing." Sensui eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Like I said before, you are a nuisance, girl. Go home."
The girl balled her hands into fists as she growled with anger. "A hundred – a thousand – I don't care! I'll fire as many Spirit Arrows as I have to as long as I get to send your ass to Limbo!"
Yellow energy flared out around her as she once more channeled her spirit energy into her fingertips, forming another Spirit Arrow. Kurama watched as the girl recklessly fired one arrow after another. The Fox Demon could only gape at the amount of energy this mysterious girl could channel. Each blast, when it exploded on contact, shook and cracked the earth. It was incredible how much power was in each arrow.
Kurama braced himself, raising his arms to shield himself from the debris that was flying everywhere. The force of the explosions building on top of one another threatened to knock Kuwabara, Hiei, and himself off their feet.
"Holy hell! How many of those arrow things can she fire?" exclaimed Kuwabara. "It's like an infinite barrage! Where is she getting all her energy from?"
"From what I can sense, she seems to be channeling her anger into spirit energy. The angrier she gets, the stronger she becomes," explained Kurama, noting the scent of fury lacing through each of the girl's Spirit Arrow.
"Geez, she must be really angry then if she can fire that many arrows," said Kuwabara nervously.
"Hmphf. This is pointless," Hiei muttered as he pushed himself to his feet.
Kurama agreed. Letting someone fight his battles for him was not something Kurama tolerated. The fox followed close behind Hiei as together the two demons charged Sensui.
But suddenly, out of the cloud of dust emerged a glowing ball of energy. Kurama recognized it as Sensui's Rishuyuukin, and both he and Hiei leaped immediately out of harm's way. However, the girl did not. She was too busy firing her Spirit Arrow and didn't see the blast coming until it was too late. Sensui's Rishuyuukin collided with one of her Spirit Arrows and the explosion of energy clashing nearly threw Kurama, Hiei, and Kuwabara off the cliff.
By the time the dust cleared and Kurama was able to lift his head, he saw that the blast had created a huge crater in the ground. Sensui floated down in the center, unscathed, but the girl was nowhere to be found. Had she been obliterated into nothingness, wondered Kurama. He tried to get up but his arms gave out and his legs were numb from the explosion.
"Damn him," snarled Hiei as he too realized he could not stand up.
"Why – why can't I move? It's like my whole body just got the beating of a lifetime," muttered Kuwabara.
It seemed Sensui's blast was too much for them to handle, even at a distance, thought Kurama. The human was too strong for them.
"I admire your dedication to your cause, even if it is a misguided one," said Sensui as he floated back down to the ground. "I used to be a pawn like you… You know, it's not too late to save yourself."
"Heh. I gave up worrying about dying a long time ago, Sensui, and I care even less about the pain that it's gonna take to get there as long as I take your ass with me!" snarled Kuwabara as he struggled to sit up. He summoned his Dimensional Sword and pointed it at Sensui. "Sword, get longer!"
The blade shot forward, straight at the ex-Spirit Detective but Sensui jumped out of the way. Kuwabara made his sword bend and follow him like a snake. Kurama was amazed at how strong the human boy had become. To manipulate his Dimensional Sword was beyond incredible. Yet Sensui was still too fast for Kuwabara. A small burst of energy in the right place and the result was Kuwabara's sword shattering. The blast carried up the hilt and exploded in Kuwabara's face, sending the human skidding backwards with his face and chest smoking.
"Kuwabara!" exclaimed Kurama.
If only they were stronger… but this was Demon World where strength was the only means to survival. And Sensui was just too much for them.
"I'm… all right, Kurama," grunted Kuwabara as he tried to lift his head and failed.
"I apologize if I happened to cause you any harm," taunted Sensui.
"Feh. If you're going to kill us then do it. Just spare us the sound of your voice," said Hiei as he sat crossed-legged and leaned back on his hands. His breathing was shallow for once – a sign that Hiei had reached his limits.
"Very well, I am merciful and I want to relieve you of your misery…"
Kurama could sense Sensui gathering his energy into the palm of his hand. This was it. Sensui was too strong – he'd even defeated Death herself.
"Sorry, Urameshi. I failed you," muttered Kuwabara through gritted teeth.
Sensui held his hand up, palms out, facing them as his energy formed a small ball of crackling purple light.
"Hn. See you in Spirit World," muttered Hiei.
Kurama nodded.
Suddenly, a thin white light shot through Sensui's wrist, effectively dissipating Sensui's energy flow and causing the ball of energy to vanish. Blood squirted out of the small hole in Sensui's wrist and they all turned to see where it came from.
There, on the edge of the plateau, struggling to pull herself up, was the reaper Kurama had thought was dead. Her eyes were still burned with energy even though her body was obviously battered and in no condition to continue fighting.
"What… did I say… about harming… the fox?" she snarled as she finally pulled herself up, panting. She was lying on her stomach – her kimono torn to shreds and her face covered in cuts and bruises. "I won't let you… kill him… He's mine!"
"You're in no position to threaten me, child," said Sensui. "Look at you! Having to resort to using your own life energy… It's pathetic."
"Like I give a damn… about what… you think," grunted the girl as she slowly got to her feet. White energy surrounded her and Kurama knew that the girl was pushing her powers beyond her limits. She had no spirit energy left – only her life energy. One or two more arrows and she would fade into nothing. She wouldn't even have a soul left to send to Spirit World. She would simply cease to exist.
The girl pointed her index finger at Sensui and a thin, white bow and arrow formed, shimmering with her life energy.
"Stop! You don't have to do it!" shouted Kuwabara. "Just get out of here!"
"That woman is a fool," said Hiei flatly.
Kurama watched as the girl put everything she had into her last arrow. "Stop it! It's not worth your life!"
"Shut up!" she snapped, eyes suddenly blazing with fury again as they met his. "I don't care if I die. There won't be a point to my existence if he kills you, fox, so shut your stupid mouth and let me kick his ass!"
"No, wait –!"
"SPIRIT ARROW!"
The arrow shot forth in a thin streak of light yet its power was ten times stronger than anything the girl had ever released. Sensui's eyes widened in surprise and he was barely able to dodge it; he escaped with the arrow grazing his side, causing blood to trickle from the shallow wound.
The girl then sank to her knees, panting and exhausted. She looked deathly pale, almost transparent. "Damn…"
"That was very impressive. Too bad it missed," said Sensui.
The girl glared up at him as her breathing grew shallower and shallower. Kurama could hear her heart struggling to keep beating as the life slowly drained out of her. She soon collapsed and grew still.
Kuwabara gulped. "No…"
Kurama managed to reach her and hastily felt for a pulse. "She's still alive – but barely…"
Suddenly, Kurama sensed a great demon energy approaching them at incredible speed. The others also sensed it too. Who could it be this time?
Kurama frowned. This power was at the level of an S-class demon. Could it be that one of them had decided to join the fray? They'd all be in trouble if that happened…
"It's coming from the other side," muttered Sensui with a frown and looked to the sky.
Kurama also looked up and spotted a glowing ball of red energy flying straight towards them… and it was coming from Human World?
"Impossible!"
"Hey! Sensui!" shouted a familiar voice that Kurama didn't think he'd ever hear again – at least not while the fox was still alive. "Sorry I'm late. Traffic was a bitch. But I'm back and ready to finish this!"
The recently-deceased Spirit Detective energetically leaped off the back of an enormous blue, phoenix-like bird and landed lightly on his feet. The bird descended after him and blew up a huge gust of wind as it touched down. Koenma hopped off the bird's back just as Yusuke reached them, scowling.
"I think you guys got the wrong impression. Did you really think I'd just lie there and let you guys fight my battles for me? Huh?" snapped Yusuke with his hands on his waist as leaned down over them.
"Wait a second! You were dead! I swear I double-checked! You didn't have a heartbeat!" exclaimed Kuwabara, pointing dramatically.
"Yeah, and I still don't have a heartbeat. I guess I should be worried…" commented Yusuke, thumping his chest. "Damn ticker still ain't ticking."
Kurama couldn't help but chuckle and Hiei soon joined in as they both realized what his friend had become. "Don't worry, Yusuke. You'll get used to it. You see demon hearts don't beat like human's do," explained the fox.
"Demon?" exclaimed Kuwabara and hastily scrambled away from Yusuke.
"Yes, demon," said Koenma as he joined them. "Yusuke's had dormant blood in him – " Koenma broke off abruptly as he suddenly spotted the girl lying unconscious by Kurama's side. "No…"
The demigod rushed to the girl's side and lifted her head, shaking her desperately. "Kikume! Kikume! Wake up! Kikume!"
"Ko… Koenma?" The girl's eyes slowly opened. Her grey eyes were unfocused and dull. "It's… about time you… got here… stupid…"
"What happened to you?" Koenma lifted her hand and gasped as it flickered, faded into nothing, and then reappeared again. "No! Don't tell me you took on Sensui by yourself?"
"Tsch. I can still… take him," she muttered in a feeble voice. "Let me… at him…"
"Are you insane? I need to get you back to Spirit World or you'll disappear into nothing!" Koenma hastily lifted her into his arms and turned to Yusuke. "Yusuke, may I borrow Puu?"
Yusuke nodded. "Yeah, sure."
"Hang on! That big bird is Puu?" exclaimed Kuwabara, bewildered.
"Yes, now get out of my way. I don't have time to waste," said Koenma. "Yusuke, I'll be back so don't going dying one me again, okay?"
Yusuke smirked and gave Koenma a thumbs-up. "You got it, chief."
"Wait," said the girl, Kikume, as she tugged at Koenma's sleeve. "I need to speak to… the fox…"
Koenma hesitated but then quickly motioned for Kurama to come over. As the he drew near, Kikume waved him to come even closer. She seemed so weak Kurama doubted she'd be able to speak louder than a whisper. Her hair and skin was turning white – a possible sign that her soul was fading away. Kurama leaned in close so the girl wouldn't waste anymore of her precious energy to speak. She needed to conserve her strength until she returned to Spirit World.
But, apparently, Kurama had underestimated the girl's mental state. She brutally grabbed hold of one of Kurama's sensitive fox ears, yanked it down, and proceeded to shout in it at the top of her lungs.
"IF YOU GET YOURSELF KILLED I SWEAR I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN AND BEAT YOUR SPIRIT TO A BLOODY PULP AND THEN THROW YOU INTO THE DEEPEST PITS OF SPIRIT WORLD! YOU GOT THAT, FOX? DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE DIE ON ME, YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING BASTARD!"
"Gah! Kikume!" Koenma hastily shuffled backwards, forcing her to let go of Kurama's possibly permanently deaf ear. "That's enough!"
Kikume nodded as her eyes drooped and she leaned wearily against Koenma's shoulder. "Don't… die you stupid… fox…"
Koenma shook his head and sighed, exasperated. "Kikume… did you really have to go and do that?" he muttered.
The demigod sighed again and quickly turned to Kurama, who was massaging his throbbing ear, and apologized with a bow. "Sorry, Kurama. She normally doesn't act like this… well, most of the time anyways..."
"Er… just hurry and take her to Spirit World, Koenma," said Kurama, eyeing the girl warily. There was definitely something wrong with this reaper and he hoped that by taking her back to Spirit World, Koenma will find a way to fix it… either that or fix Kurama's hearing.
Koenma climbed onto Puu with Kikume cradled in his arms. "To Spirit World, Puu."
The Spirit Animal gave an ear-piercing cry and took flight as the Spirit Detective cracked his knuckles and turned to face his fallen predecessor, ready to at last finish this drawn-out battle.
*a/n ~ Well that was fun, wasn't it? heh heh i should buy Kurama a hearing aid for xmas. i feel sorry for him. Even when she's dying Kikume has one mean set of lungs. anyhoo, hope you all enjoyed that crazy adventure and no, this story is not done - it is FAR from done :) if you've got the time, let me know what you think, okay? Reviews = motivation = more chapters! :D thank you!