E.H.

Oh my god! An update! I know! For that...I am terribly sorry for how long it took! I TRIED to make this longer! But I'm still figuring things out! So, please bear with me! If it's horrible, I apologize! I feel it's going in a better direction than what I originally was trying to do. By FAR. If the characters go out of character, please forgive. It's been a while since I've written for Yu Yu Hakusho. I have to get my brain back into it. That and I have a splitting headache. So, here it is! Chapter seven!

Steps of a Beast

Shizuru woke slowly, rolling over. She blinked her eyes lazily as she stared up at the glowing cave ceiling. She shifted momentarily. The feeling of being watched settled over her. She stilled and rolled her eyes around to search the area around her. The ground began to shift beneath her and she felt the same crushing awareness she'd had from the cave. However, this time, the awareness was ten-fold. She began to quiver uncontrollably as her body chilled to the point she wasn't sure she'd ever be warm again. She pushed herself onto her elbow and looked around more carefully. A long, dust-filled gust blew over her from behind. She closed her eyes and counted down to her demise. She didn't dare move; no need enticing it more to kill her. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Her ears filled the overpowering sound of something sniffing her. A low, rumbling growl sounded before it seemed to pull back a bit.

"You…smell…sorrow…loss." The voice in her head was deep, gravely, and vibrated through her consciousness physically. She didn't know what to say in reply, so she stayed silent. "Why…despair?"

When something big enough to sniff you and blow dusty breath over you asked you a question, you answered. "I'm stuck in a cave with a giant that's probably going to eat me with a broken leg. Why not despair?"

A long silence followed before a low rumble that at first she confused for a growl rolled over her. It took her only a moment before she realized it wasn't a growl, but a laugh.

"You…amuse."

"Glad I amuse someone." She replied shakily.

"Allow…live." The rumbling pulled back from her. She rolled over and watched in sudden awe at the true size of the beast she'd been blindfolded from seeing before. The monstrous form lumbered away into the darkest part of the cave. She finally gained her breathing back in a whoosh.

"This'll be one hell of a story to retell if I live through this." She murmured, disbelieving. She turned back to where the mushrooms were and felt her stomach cramp from hunger. She reached out and plucked a few, washing them in the cool water beside her. She sat up, dragging her leg carefully to a more comfortable position. She chewed thoughtfully as she stared into the water. She fought back a shiver from the cooler air. Her clothes had dried, but she wasn't feeling too amazing. She looked to where the logs were still drying and practically begged for them to dry faster with her eyes. She looked away and glared back into the water. Her reflection looked distortedly back at her. She could see the bags under her eyes, the pale color to her skin, and she couldn't help but feel like she looked skinnier now. She wondered how long she'd been gone now. A day? A week? A month? How long was it? The biggest question that overshadowed the others was a simple one with no answer; was she safe? She wanted to bathe so badly, but her leg wouldn't permit such.

"You…worry."

She looked back toward the darker area and was actually able to make out the giant's eyes from the rest of the rock surrounding it. "Am I safe here?" She answered.

The rock thing tilted its head, making several jagged rocks fall around it. She couldn't help but be glad she wasn't over there. Impaled wasn't a look she wanted to try out.

"Safe...now."

"So I wasn't before?" She raised an eyebrow at it.

"Wondered…flavor…you."

"Wondered what flavor I was, huh?" She scoffed. "Probably nothing worth your while."

"Considered…denied. So…weak."

She turned away and looked down at her broken leg. "Trust me, if I had a choice, I'd wouldn't be. But, what can you do when you're born human with nothing but awareness of the supernatural?" She shrugged as if it didn't bother her.

"Could…be…more."

She didn't look at the beast. She didn't want to. "I'm sure at a cost."

The growling rumbling rolled over the area again. "Always…cost."

Shizuru sighed and leaned back on her hands. "Thanks, but no thanks. I've got enough on my plate as is."

"Offer…stands…if…reconsider."

Silence fell over the cave and Shizuru found herself lost in thought. She closed her eyes and instantly saw Kouta in her mind. She tried to push it aside, but it kept rising up. Everything she could recall was making her feel a little too warm. Not appropriate for her current situation. With a heavy sigh that nearly made her lungs ache, she flopped back and laid her arm over her eyes.

…..

Very few things in Shizuru's life went well. Waking up, going to work, dealing with family matters…all ended up in some form of chaos or another. It was something she'd learned to live with. The familiar chaos of life was simply that; familiar. A nice long cigarette break definitely managed to make her feel better by a long shot. However, these new events were becoming a rather large pain in the ass. Something unsettled her from her sleep. Sitting up quickly, her amber eyes scanned the area around her. The cave was, for the most part, barely lit by the strange glowing lichens or stones above. It wasn't so much the lack of what she couldn't see that bothered her but more so what she could see.

Something was crawling out of the water ahead of her. Near where she washed in. She felt a small sense of panic rush her. Questions flit through her mind in rapid succession. What was it? Why was it here? Did that psycho find her? Was this it for her? Was there anything she could fight with nearby? The last question is the one that forced a calm over her. She had to find something to defend herself with. Like hell she'd go down without a fight. With no options within reach, she had to risk exposing herself more by dragging nearer to the already downed spikes of stone from earlier when the beast moved. The dark lump of whatever it was began to move further onto the side of the water way. Fuck it. She would roll, bad leg or not, if it meant a chance at survival! The figure began to stand. Humanoid in looks, Shizuru felt her pulse leap. The figure turned and in the dim lighting she could make out some features. She'd not taken a good look at her captor as she fled like a bat out of hell, but what she had managed to see was enough. This was psycho. Cursing under her breath, she took a deep breath and threw her body to the side and rolled. Her leg screamed in protest but she didn't heed it. It could scream all it wanted, didn't change the fact she had to move. Psycho's wheezing cough proceeded fumbled steps in Shizuru's direction.

'Shit, shit, shit…' She tried to measure her breathing as she dragged her body before rolling again.

"You…" Shizuru ignored the garbled call. "I'm going to enjoy killing you!"

"Catch me first!" Shizuru really should have known better. Taunting the able bodied one wanting to kill you? Yeah. Not the best idea since sliced bread. But what kind of Kuwabara would she be if she didn't fling some stupid retort back? Her hand zinged with discomfort as it collided with the nearest weapon of choice. She clasped it in her hands and rolled over in time with it to see the Psycho a few feet away. The deformed mass of demon glared down at her.

"I plan to!" Psycho snarled before leaping at Shizuru.

Shizuru had barely enough time to raise the heavy rock and deflect the first blow. The second however wasn't so easy to evade. The hit completely knocked her off balance and jostled the broken bones in her leg. Psycho then stepped down on her leg. Shizuru couldn't ignore the scream that clawed up her throat and out. She went to clutch at her leg. Psycho threw a fist into Shizuru's nose. The cartilage in her nose crunched with white hot explosions behind her eyelids.

"I'm going to drag your dead body in a parade around Kouta!"

Shizuru opened her mouth to retort only to have her entire head slammed forward into a knee. Damn demons and their abnormal strength. With consciousness already fading away Shizuru felt a whimper escape. She hated that it happened at all; but it was out there now. Panic, worry, fear, and despair settled over her as the demon before her continued to rain hit after hit, blow after blow down upon her already battered body. 'Kazuma…' Her mind flashed an image of his face before her. She recalled in sickeningly perfect detail his death during the dark tournament. The soul-crushing reality that if she died here and now…he'd have to live through the same thing she'd gone through. The difference would be that she wouldn't be coming back. Psycho was no Toguro. Toguro missed Kazuma's vitals for his own reasons…Psycho wasn't planning to let her walk away for a life lesson to Kouta. No. Psycho planned to shove another death down his throat. One that he couldn't have stopped even if he'd wanted to. Four words that were undoubtedly going to be the same four words that would damn her echoed in her mind. 'Offer…stands…if…reconsider.'

"I reconsider!" She managed as she felt her head crack back against the stone floor.

"What the hell are you talking to?!" Psycho's putrid breath stifled Shizuru's ability to think.

Then the earth groaned. Everything began to move and rumble. Shizuru couldn't focus her vision on anything. To be quite honest, she couldn't focus on anything besides the numb feeling settling over her body. Her vision dimmed rapidly until she felt her eyelids close. Kami, she was so tired. So…fucking…tired. Maybe when she woke up…she'd be at home nursing a hangover.

Yeah. That's right. She'd be nursing a hangover from Yusuke's wedding. Maybe even toss a few back with her morning smoke. Everything would be fine. Nothing would hurt. She sure as hell wouldn't feel like a train wreck on two feet. Nope. Life would be just like always. Yusuke'd be cracking some stupid ass jokes while Kazuma would be rising to any and all bait. Shiyuki would be trying to keep Hiei in the room with them while Yukina would be giggling behind her dainty hand. Keiko'd be rearing to give Yusuke a pummeling. Kurama would be laughing in the corner while Inabi would be smiling as if she understood. Kouta would be entering the room and smiling at her. Wait…what? Kouta wasn't part of the morning routine!

Tingling erupted throughout her as her eyes snapped open. She blinked one, twice, and once more for good measure. That wasn't right. Not even a little. Something flew at her face and she caught it mid-motion. A fist. She'd just…stopped a fist? Her eyes followed the arm back up to the source. The deformed bitch stared at her in stunned dismay. Shizuru would have mirrored that look if she didn't feel so damn good! A smirk spread over her lips.

"Well, I'll be damned. Look who's got her second wind, sweetheart." Shizuru drawled as she tightened her grip on the demon's hand. A scream erupted from the other. Shizuru's smirk grew into a grin as her head fell back and a laugh roiled out of her. Her head snapped forward and slammed her forehead against the demon's face. She then rose to her feet. She glanced at her leg and tested it. It was healed. Completely. The only problem was the restraints still wound around it. She threw the demon's hand aside without a care. She didn't bother to look at Psycho. She bent and pulled the restraints free. Straightening, she stretched and sighed contently. She cocked her head to the side and surveyed the demon before her. "Is it just me, or did the tables just turn?"

Whether it was the lighting in the cavern or just the fact that she suddenly felt less weak, Shizuru could have sworn that the demon before her paled. A lot. A laugh bubbled up inside her at the sight. Kami, did it feel good to be so…strong! Maybe she would survive this after all! She popped her shoulders and back before grasping the front of the demon's collar and hauling it closer. She brought her knee forward and slammed it directly into the demon's gut. A loud, guttural noise of pain accentuated the darkness. She felt warm, sticky wetness fall on her arm and leg. The smell was coppery and sickly at once. This demon was dying; and not from her. It occurred to her that she should feel pity. It never came. Instead, what came was a blood lust that she'd never felt before in her life. And to be honest, she couldn't it wasn't welcome.

"What…changed…?" The demon grunted out as it wheezed ever louder.

"…Good question." Shizuru put her finger to her chin before she shrugged. "Don't really care to answer either, toots." She threw the demon down and stomped her foot on its chest. The crunching under her foot was satisfying to say the least. "Next time you play Human Punching Bag, be sure your human can't ever fight back, dumbass."

"Just…kill me."

"Now why would I wanna do that?"

"Are you…a monster?"

Shizuru stopped and stared at the broken body beneath her. "Always…cost." Reality rushed her too quickly as her empathic nature hit her full force. So much pain, anger, sorrow, betrayal, loss, and fear invaded her at once making her backpedal and cry out grabbing her head. She sank to her knees and cradled her head in her hands, touching her forehead to the ground. Hot tears etched trails down her cheeks. Was this her cost? Losing her natural affinity to help others in place of a rancid tasting blood-lust? What use did she have for such…such…demonic feelings? She raised her head and looked around. The thing, the creature…was gone. She couldn't feel it around her; no, not around her. But she did feel it inside her. She blew out a long breath. 'What the hell did I do?'

'Contract…with…Chikyu.' Answered the beast from inside her head. 'Part…of…you…now.'

'Part of me?' She looked upon the broken demon as it shuddered. She crawled over to it and looked over it. "Don't die, please."

A wet scoff, "what? Now you feel…remorse?"

"…I…yes. I do. I'm not that, that thing."

"Lie…all you…want, human. You…are it…now."

Shizuru grimaced not liking the sound of that in the slightest. Her head began to throb from the weight of her 'gift'. She touched one hand to her face and then moved the other over the demon's chest. The moment she touched the demon she withdrew as though burned. Bile burned up her throat. Sure, she was a Kuwabara, but that didn't mean she couldn't become ill from something like that. Her hand hadn't settled over simple flesh. Oh no. It sank. Into a slightly warm, gooey…oh Kami…she was sick. She turned to the side and released her stomach's contents. Shaking, she spat out the rest of the vomit in her mouth and looked to the side.

"Isn't there anything I can do?"

The demon gave her quite the haughty look. "No."

"I won't just let you die like this! This is bullshit!"

"Ha…life is…"

"No! I mean, yes, life is! But this? This isn't okay with me!"

The demon sneered. "I hope…you rot…from this curse…"

All right. Now she didn't feel quite as much remorse as earlier. In fact, her anger was starting to spark a bit again. But then again, so was her curiosity. "What do you know that I don't?"

"You…smell."

"So do you, princess." Shizuru snarled.

"No…like a…dragon. Foul, dark…evil…"

Shizuru stared blankly and with enough cynicism to frost a three layer cake. "Right. Dragon. Got it."

"Idiot."

"Bitch."

"Fodder."

"Squishy."

The demon snapped angry eyes to Shizuru. "Just…kill me already. Save me…from hearing…your hideous voice."

"Don't tempt me, asswad. Now, answer me seriously."

"I did."

"I smell like evil dragon? Well, that's just dandy for everyone isn't it?"

"It will devour…your soul."

"...pleasant."

The demon snorted derisively. "For me. For you? Not…in the slightest."

Shizuru dug her hands into her hair. "How long do you have?"

"Until you…kill me."

"So…you can heal?"

"Didn't say that."

"You can't heal?"

"I lost…that ability…after a run in with…your friend."

"So in other words, either let you rot to death and go in the painful way possible or kill you and cut it blissfully short?"

"…yes…"

"You tried to kill me slowly earlier."

The demon looked at her for the first time with the hint of fear. Shizuru stared back. Regardless of what she'd done earlier under this "dragon's" influence, she just couldn't imagine watching someone or something die painfully slow.

"Tell me a story."

"You've…got to be…kidding me."

"Nope. Buck up, kitten." Shizuru stated with a grim cheerfulness that was all façade. "I want to know who you are and what you did to my friend. I'm sure it had something to do with you being goddamned insane."

"Will…you kill me then?"

"…I'll consider it."

"Fine."

…..

Shizuru sat through the entire story without too many comments. It wasn't easy; either the sitting without comment or listening all the way. The dying demon was slow and raspy. But she'd learned her name. Miro. It definitely rang quite a few bells. She was one of Inabi's pals from way the hell back when. It was funny how life worked out, wasn't it? There was a heavy silence over them. She wasn't sure what to say. A lot of what she'd told Shizuru made the brunette want to leave her die slowly. She'd played a large part in Inabi's capture and torture. It was no doubt as to why the hell Red had left her out to die originally. If only she'd done just that. It was something she knew Kurama wouldn't forgive himself for if he knew all the shit she'd gone through because of a demon he left to die. She could only guess at how he'd managed to stop her healing process. It was probably botanical in nature and therefore the farthest thing from her knowledge or domain.

"Well…?"

Shizuru looked up from where she sat staring into the water. "Inabi is ten times the demon you'll ever be."

Kami did she hate that rattling cough. "I don't…care for a…human's opinion."

"I'm sure you don't. It'd be so easy to leave you to rot in here forever."

Silence met her.

"You should be happy that I'm not any of the others. They'd leave you without second thought. Wait…no…Hiei'd take a hell of a lot of pleasure in finding all the areas that hurt the most and burning them slowly. He's a sadistic little bastard that way."

"…what…does that mean…for me?"

"I swear to kami, if killing you off leaves me with some fucked up sense of regret or guilt for the rest of my life…I will find a way to rewind time and leave your sorry ass. You got me?" She was talking more to herself at that point. Miro rolled her eyes.

Shizuru took a deep breath and moved over Miro. She looked down at the pitiful creature that probably could have been something more if she'd decided against becoming so… She didn't even have a word for it. Insane didn't begin to cover it. As she looked at Miro, she hoped beyond all reason that she wasn't looking at her future. If she ever went this far gone…she prayed someone would kill her swiftly. Closing her eyes she reached out and grabbed Miro's head and chin with either hand. She thought only of how the boys would do it and pushed and pulled at the same time with everything she had in her. A resounding snap echoed throughout the cavern. The instant she heard that sound, Miro's body fell completely still. A whoosh of putrid smelling air left her lips as her lungs expelled the last of her air. Shizuru opened one eye first before the other. The blank, glassy look in her eyes was disturbing. She turned away and flopped back.

"…well, what now?"

'Escape…here.'

"Oh yeah, you'd like that wouldn't you?" Shizuru answered the voice in her head audibly before she laughed bitterly. "I already sound like a lunatic!"

'Insanity…is…inevitable.'

"No shit." She rolled over and pushed herself up. "Well, how do we leave this…place?"

'Same…way…in.'

"Through the waterway? Doesn't it only flow in?"

'Not…your…door…mine.'

Shizuru frowned. "Oh yeah? And how's that gonna work?"

'Will…it…and...it…will…move.'

She turned to stare at the giant rock face before her. Something tingled all the way to her toes as she moved toward it. This was the right wall. She just…knew. It was there in her somewhere. Her hands raised from her sides and pressed to the rock. Her eyes closed and no sooner had the thought formed then the rock began to tremble and part. She gasped and dropped her hands. Several spikes began to fall around her. She cursed and dodged them before running for the opening. It was just large enough now for her to squeeze through. She fell out the other side onto a ledge. The rock, as if knowing she was through, closed with a rumble and slam that reminded her of an earthquake's epicenter. Her eyes squinted against the reddish hued sky of the Demon World. Raising to her feet, she dusted her jeans off and didn't bother to feel a bit insecure about wearing little more than her jeans, worn out tennis shoes, and her vest that hardly covered enough of her bra to be decent. She cupped her hand over her eyes and stared out across the vast valley.

"I'm never complaining about the treadmill again." She grumbled as she began to pick her way down a less than satisfactory path.

…..

They were almost to the valley now. Hiei, Kurama, Kouta, and Inabi all halted suddenly and stiffened. Yusuke paused and raised an eyebrow before he too realized what it was.

"What the fuck was that?!"

"Chikyuu." Kurama and Inabi answered together.

"He's moving." Kouta stated in an alarmed tone. "Toward this end of the valley."

"Uhh…that ain't good, is it?"

"Hn. No."

Yusuke cracked his knuckles and popped his neck. "Well then…we just gotta be ready for him."

Kurama threw a look over his shoulder. "Mazoku bloodline or not, Yusuke, none of us including you are a match for a dragon of this nature. Do you not remember Hiei's…set-backs…with the Dragon of the Darkness Flame?"

"Tch." Hiei looked away annoyed.

"Well yeah, but he beat it didn't he?"

"Yes and no. He, in a baser fashion, become one with it. This only happened because the dragon allowed it."

"So you're sayin'…we're fucked?"

"In the most sensible fashion, yes. Indeed we are, Yusuke-san." Inabi stated and looked toward the direction of the energy.

Kouta frowned and shifted. "Something is off about it."

"Yes…it is…different…" Kurama glanced at Kouta. "What do you-?"

Hiei turned and if they hadn't been staring directly at him…they'd never have believe their eyes. Hiei's jaw was down in awe while his jagan eye was open and glowing. It was rather comical really.

"Hiei?" Kurama hedged.

"...it's the woman…"

"Shizuru? Yeah. That's who we're after!" Yusuke rolled his eyes.

"No you fool! She is what we sense!"

"Say what?!"

"You're sure?" Kurama interrupted over Yusuke's near tirade.

Hiei nodded.

"Well, that changes things a bit…"

"Hello! Right here! What do you mean she's what we're sensin'?! This's Shizuru we're talkin' 'bout!"

"Yusuke, please." Kurama stated, looking at the half-breed. "There are a few possibilities we may be faced with. Either she has been consumed by Chikyuu, or she has somehow…gained his power. I think it's rather obvious which of these options is the most likely."

Yusuke stopped and looked at the four others around him. He moved forward, in front of the others. He looked off into the distance and ground his teeth. His right hand clenched into a fist that she slammed against the nearest tree. Wood splintered beneath his hand in a spider web effect from the force of his hit. Closing his eyes briefly he turned and looked at the others. "Then looks like we find a way to gut this bastard."

Hiei's answering smirk was all the confirmation he needed for the fire demon's stance. Kurama hesitated, glancing at his mate. Inabi nodded her assent. Kouta moved to stand beside him.

"A dragon's weak spot is under their left arm through their armor scaled skin. Pierce there and it shoots straight through to their heart." Yusuke looked at Kouta approvingly.

Inabi stiffened rather obviously. She knew exactly why Kouta said as much, but still…it wasn't something someone just easily said without hesitation. She caught the sideways glance from Kurama and nodded just barely in confirmation. What Kouta had just released to their knowledge was how to not only kill the dragons but how to weaken and potentially destroy not only herself but also himself. A dragon demon with a dragon contract had a very close living contract with the dragons. If the dragon died, part of them died with it. She reached for his hand and Kurama took hers, squeezing it reassuringly. They turned toward what faced them.

"Hiei and Yusuke…" Kurama spoke slowly but surely. The two looked at him with their own version of curiosity. "You should both return to Human World."

"What? Hell no!"

"Hn."

"You both have pregnant mates at home. They need you."

"What about you?!"

"We have no young yet." Nabi answered with a bitter-sweet smile. "If any of us are to fail, it should be those of us which have not a family yet."

"I'll make sure Shizuru finds a way home, Urameshi." Kouta said without turning around. "And I'll do my damnedest to be sure she's alive."

Hiei turned and began walking away. In the direction they'd come from. "Don't get killed, fox. I can't promise not to kill them all off."

Kurama smirked. "Of course not."

Yusuke looked around and ground his teeth. "You ain't gonna budge are ya?"

"Unfortunately, no. Keiko would never forgive me if I allowed you to get hurt before your child is born."

"Fuck…" Running a hand over his gelled back hair, Yusuke glanced after Hiei. "I swear to god, if you die…any of you…I'll personally have Koenma drag your asses back to kick 'em myself."

Nabi chuckled. "We will be assured not to fail then."

Yusuke looked at each of them before cursing again. He jogged to catch up to the shorter demon already quite a distance from them.

"Was it really wise to send them away?" Nabi asked softly.

"Would you rather risk Keiko or Shiyuki to be without a mate? They are the most reckless in battle."

"Let's go. We've wasted too much time talking in any case." Kouta motioned for them to head out.

...

Holy shit.

Pardon my language but…um…what I just wrote wasn't entirely what I had planned but I really like it more in any case! Please let me know what you think! I wanted Shizuru to have a bit more bad-assery on her side.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Sorry to keep you all waiting! Writer's block is a pain in the butt and life also has a bad habit of getting in the way!

In any case, here we are! Updated! Thanks to all your faithful reviews! Hope this lives up to your expectations!

Love,

Erika Hearken