All right folks, here's the second part to the three part final chapter! ^0^ I hope you like it!
Dsiclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, especially Kurama. Nor do I own Leiko. You know the peoples that I own. lol
ENJOY!!
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--10 minutes later
Youkos' ship pulled over nicely right next to his younger brothers' ship. Hopping easily over the side, he glanced about, knowing perfectly well what was to come. His sharp golden eyes eyed the shadowed places, causing him to naturally stay on guard. Taking a few steps forward, he smirked as he looked up at the helm of the ship. Kurama stood, leaning slightly against the helm of his ship, glaring down at his older brother.
"What do you want, Youko? It is rare for you to show your face on the seas…" Kurama said venomously, his voice at an unusually calm level.
"I decided to pay you a visit, little brother. I was wondering where you were and low and behold! I find you heading directly to me. You know how impatient I can be, baby brother. I just had to come out and meet you." A wicked smile spread across his face, his golden eyes narrowing. "And now…YOU DIE!"
At the sound of his raised voice, Youkos' crew, which had been hidden from view, as was Kuramas', charged over the railings and stormed onto the deck. Prancing out of the shadows, Kuramas' crew attacked full on, their swords drawn and ready. The two pirate crews clashed viciously, both sides hacking away at each other. Dead and/or dying bodies dropped quickly from both sides, blood splattering onto the once beautifully polished wood. Kurama gave a sharp and quick glance up at Leiko, who he noticed was about to show herself up there to try and help the ones below. Upon the look from Kurama, she stayed hidden, but pointed down below. Quickly looking back down, he just barely had enough time to unsheathe his sword and defend himself as his brother attacked him.
Both brothers clashed, both glaring coldly into one anothers' eyes.
"You've improved, baby brother." Youko said with a smirk, the strain of pushing against his brother showing ever so slightly.
"You as well, Youko." Kurama replied, knowing that if he used his full force now, he would tire out easier, and thus be cut down by his older brother.
By now, both pirate crews were in shambles, barely a few left on either side. Those who remained watched their bosses fight, wondering who would end up the winner. Pushing his brother back, Youko took a swing at his head, but Kurama ducked, missing the decapitating blow that was meant for him. He aimed a shot at his brother's stomach, but Youko kicked it out of the way, almost knocking it out of his hand entirely. However, that one moment of vulnerability was enough for Youko to finish knocking the sword out of his brother's hand and to the other side of the ship. Pushing Kurama down, being on the main deck now, Youko pointed the sword tip to Kuramas' throat, smirking evilly.
"Well, well. Looks as if I've won yet again, baby brother. Now, I will erase the last mistake mother made."
"You bastard! I was no mistake! You just said that to get me on the seas!" Kurama yelled, trying to back up to get away from the point. Pretty soon, his back pressed against the hard wood of the main mast, telling him that he was trapped and had no were else to go.
"Of course I did. That way, I could erase you easier, without the worry of soiling my good name." Youko replied, giving a slight shrug. With an evil smirk, he raised his sharp sword high above his head. "Fare well, SHUUICHI!"
"Not so fast, Youko!" Suddenly, a few small spheres of flame came down from above, causing Youko to jump back and glare up at the person who dared to interrupt. Leiko jumped down, standing in front of Kurama. "You'll have to get through me first, you bastard!"
Youko smirked, as if she weren't a real threat. "Ah, I was wondering where you had hidden yourself, Leiko. No matter, you shall join my brother in death soon enough." Lunging at her, his sword aimed right for her heart, Leiko acted quickly. Outstretching her arms and closing her eyes, a large ball of flame began to form. Gasping in shock, Youko stopped dead in his tracks, staring into the bright flames of the ever growing sphere. Opening her eyes, Leiko yelled, "Take this, you BASTARD!" and threw the ball.
Youko raised his sword arm in natural defense, though he knew he wouldn't be able to make it out alive. As the fire ball flew straight at him, a column of water encased itself around him, protecting him from the hot embers that exploded upon impact. As the fire faded away, so did the water column. A figure jumped onto the ship and stood in front of Youko, standing protectively in front of him. As the smoke cleared, Leikos' eyes widened.
"Nozomi?!" She cried, still staring in shock. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
Nozomi looked sad, as if she were forcing herself to do this, but she decided to reply nonetheless. "I'm protecting my mate. Something I'm sure you're doing as well, Leiko."
Leiko stared, still not believing this turn of events. Kurama looked between the two, as did Youko. Both brothers knew that this was a dangerous fight that would soon erupt between the two friends. Standing back up, having been blown down onto the floor by the force and heat from the giant fire ball, Youko smirked.
"Heh, it would appear as if we both have aces. Nevertheless, your lives shall end today."
Leiko turned slightly and helped Kurama to his feet. "Not in your life, Youko. The one dying today, is you."
"Hah, I'd love to see you try."
Taking a few steps forward, Kurama drew his sword and aimed it at his brother's heart. However, Nozomi got in the way, not allowing him to pass.
"Nozomi, get out of the way!"
"I can't let you do that…" She said quietly, glaring at him sadly.
"But you heard him yourself! He's going to kill me! Wasn't it you who asked me to protect Leiko no matter what? But, I won't be able to do that if he kills me!"
"That's not my problem whether you live or die…" She said quietly, looking down at the deck below, her eyes shadowed by her bangs. She looked up suddenly, her eyes cold and narrow. "I won't let you harm Youko!" She shouted, before unleashing a large wave of water, aimed straight at him.
Caught off guard, Kurama raised his arm in defense, much like Youko had done before, preparing for the impact. But, using her fire power, Leiko canceled out the water attack by creating a similar wave, but of fire.
"And I won't let you harm Kurama!" Leiko shouted, stepping in front of him in defense.
Both Kurama and Youko watched, both amused, both worried about their mates' safety.
"Nozomi…what's happened to you…?" Leiko asked softly, dropping her stance, and ignoring everything else around her. "You used to be so kind and gentle… And now… And now you're defending that PERV! What's gotten into you?!"
"Love…" She replied softly, glancing back at Youko before looking back at her best friend. "He may be a pervert, and he may hate his brother. Hell, I may hate what I'm doing, and what he's doing… But…mates have to be there for each other, through thick and thin. And I'm not about to let you or Kurama take his life!"
Pushing Leiko to the side, Kurama stepped forward, looking apologetic at Nozomi for what he was about to say. "But, he was the one that got you pregnant almost 2 years ago! How can you stay by his side? How did you manage to get back to his side?"
Nozomis' face was hidden in shadow as Leiko cried out, "WHAT?! PREGNANT?!" She turned a hatred filled glare to Youko. "YOU BASTARD!!!" Taking a few steps forward, her hatred directed to only Youko, she was blocked, once again, by Nozomi. "Nozomi, come ON! He got you PREGNANT! PREGNANT! Why the hell didn't you tell me this before?!"
"Because you would have made a big deal out of it, as you are now." Nozomi replied quietly, her eyes once again covered in shadow by her bangs.
"But… where's your child? You didn't kill him, did you? Abortion? Still-born? What?"
A soft smile came over Nozomis' face as she looked up slightly, her eyes showing that she was off in a distant land.
"My little boy… He's waiting for us on an island far away from here… Waiting for his parents to come home…" Her eyes narrowed suddenly, turning an icy blue color. "And I won't have my son waiting!" Summoning more water, she quickly created a water sphere and threw it, at full speed, at Leiko.
Giving a yelp of surprise, Leiko quickly summoned up a fire ball, although smaller than Nozomis', and threw it at the incoming water sphere. The impact caused smoke to spread over both ships, hiding the fight from view. Taking his chance, Youko grabbed Nozomis' wrist and jumped over to his ship, smirking as he glanced over his shoulder.
"YOUKO!" Kurama yelled angrily, jumping over the railings and landing on his brother's ship, his sword raised and aimed at his elder brother.
Nozomi got in the way, creating a sword made entirely of ice. Both swords clashed, both wielders glaring coldly at each other.
"Nozomi, this is your last chance! If you don't move out of the way, I will consider you an obstacle in my way and dispose of you! I don't care if you have a son or not!" Kurama shouted, pressing bodily against the swords.
Nozomis' eyes flared. "Not in your life…" She growled, pushing her sword and his up into the air. In the moment of vulnerability, Nozomi made a quick slashing motion, cutting Kurama across the chest, injuring him.
Staggering backwards, Kurama had barely jumped back in time to miss a fatal blow. Instead, he crumbled to the floor, his sword by his side, his newly made cut bleeding freely.
"How's that for my answer, Kurama?" She asked venomously, glaring down at him, her sword pointing just underneath his chin.
Leiko appeared out of no where, carrying a sword made completely out of fire. Catching Nozomi by surprise, she locked their swords together, bringing her closer to her best friend. With her eyes narrow in anger now, Leiko threw a punch, but Nozomi dodged it by jumping out of the way, dropping her ice sword and creating a new one.
"I'll take care of Nozomi, Kurama. You take care if your brother." Leiko told him, before jumping into the smoke that still lingered over both ships, most likely the work of Nozomi.
Staggering to his feet, Kurama clutched his sword tightly in his right hand, glaring venomously at his brother.
Youko eyed him cautiously. "You're lucky she can't kill, baby brother."
Kurama looked up, slightly surprised. "What do you mean? Can you not see that I am injured?!"
"Injured, yes. Dead? Not in the least. She missed on purpose, not because your quick wit saved you." Before his brother could protest, he continued. "Yes, you jumped back, but she suspected you would, which is why that cut is deeper than it should be, if she hadn't thought of it. You are very lucky, my dear baby brother."
A pause, before Youko raised his sword slightly, a frown creasing his face. "Well then, shall we continue our fight? Now that we have no interruptions, let us REALLY begin!"
Kurama braced himself, raising his sword in defense.
--With Leiko and Nozomi
Both girls were panting slightly, having been jumping around every where, avoiding each others' attacks.
"Heh…you're better than I thought…" Nozomi said quietly, giving a weak smirk.
Leiko stood, panting a little more heavily then her friend. "Yeah…you too…"
"You know… I don't recall you ever being able to control fire…"
"Yeah, funny story…" Leiko murmured, standing up straight again, facing her friend dead on. "About 2 years and some months ago, I figured out that I could. I had started a fire by accident, and from there, every time I got a chance alone, I practiced. I've gotten good, huh?"
"Good enough to challenge me, yes. But, most likely not enough to defeat me!" Nozomi replied, jumping up into the smoke for cover.
"Oh no you don't!" Leiko called after her, jumping up into the smoke after her.
--Back with Kurama and Youko
Both men panted heavily, glaring at each other in all out hatred. A cry of pain nearby told them that one of their girls had gotten injured, but there was no way of telling which one was it.
"Leiko!" "Nozomi!" Both cried out, worried for their mates. Both glared at each other once again, then bolted into the smoke, each searching for their mate.
"Leiko! Leiko, where are you!?" Kurama called out, cupping his left hand over a side of his mouth for more amplification.
A loud thud in front of him told him that the battle must have moved to there. A cry of pain was audible, carrying clearly over the water. Running forward, Kurama stopped short at the sight before him. Breathing heavily, Nozomi stood over Leiko, her sword pointing at Leikos' throat.
"Bitch! Let her go!!" Kurama roared, running forward, his sword raised at Nozomi.
Before he reached her, Youko came out of no where and slashed at him, their swords ringing as they clashed.
"You're fight was with me, remember? Leave them be, and concentrate on me, baby brother." He said with an evil smirk, pushing his brother back. Glancing over his shoulder at Nozomi, he cast her a worried glance.
"I'm fine. You concentrate on your brother…but…" She paused, looking at him with worry clear in her eyes. "Just…be careful…"
Giving her a final and small smirk, Youko ran back into the smoke, off to kill his brother. Taking her chance, Leiko knocked the weapon out of Nozomis' grasp. Catching her off guard, Leiko did a sweeping floor kick, knocking her friend to the ground. Creating a sword of fire, since her other one had been knocked out of her hand, she pointed it at her throat, glaring down at her as she panted heavily.
Nozomi glared up at her friend, panting just as heavily as she was. "Kill me now…"
Still glaring down at her friend, Leikos' hand shook with tension, her mind rushing on what she should do. Closing her eyes, she raised the sword and…
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That's the end of this part! D I know it's at a cliff hanger, I just HAD to do something that'd keep you guys at the edge of you seats. -evil laughter- ... -ahem- Now then, please be KIND enough to not just skip straight to the last part of the fight. Please review and tell me if there are any questions in the reviews. Uhm....please and thank you for reading. ^^
On to the next! lol