Author's Note: Tomorrow is Christmas, which means everyone gets an update tonight and one tomorrow in the spirit of the holidays! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and Christmas, or holidays in general!
DoppleGengar: -huggles- Happy Holidays darling! Ahem... A limp noodle wouldn't do enough justice. It needs to be something even more demeaning than that. Hmm... Maybe a bedazzled limp noodle? -thinking too hard- XD Unfortunately the guys aren't in this one, but I think they're in the next one. I can't quite remember, it's been so long since I wrote 13 and 14. And this is a little late, but Happy Thanksgiving to you as well sweetheart! I hope you enjoy this update and the one to come tomorrow!
Song for Chapter:
Heaven Knows - The Pretty Reckless, Light Me Up
Chapter Thirteen: Dangerous
"You are a damn fool, girl," a musical voice chastised, smacking Kotone on the arm with just enough strength to catch her attention, but do no harm.
Instead of three companions, Kotone had added a fourth to the mix, though this time of a more feminine disposition. A small figure stood to her left, though Raizen, Yuji, and Kuronue were behind her. The woman had just as many cuts as the wind demoness, as did the three men behind them, save one.
A cut across her palm, blood mixing against the skin of another in a tight grip...
Kotone was resurrecting her fifth member, and the second to last of her plan.
"Shut up, hag," grunted Kotone, her pale eyes narrowed on the skeleton before her, a heart that beat only a few times in her hands. "Ready, demon?"
"Absolutely, woman," he hacked, his voice just the same as every last undead being she'd brought back thus far.
"I hope you're prepared to kill him when necessary," the woman to her left said again.
"Genkai, I just ask that you trust me," Kotone mumbled, sparing a quick glance to the lovely psychic, now in the form of her most powerful point. She had long pink hair, tied back in a braid, and was more stunning than Kotone had believed the hag once was.
"Just don't be a dimwit."
Without further conversation, Kotone thrust the heart into the beast before her, and as always she fell to a heap on the ground as his youki flared around the group. She panted, the degree of pain far less than her first encounter, enough to be bearable in the least. She was picked up by one of the men and cradled while ointment was put on with gentle hands. She was sure Genkai was doing the deed this go around, but could not be sure due to her mind being far more preoccupied with staying focused.
The youki died down and Kotone was helped awkwardly to her feet, using her favorite bat demon as a support. Yuji was on her left, eyeing their nude ally with distrust, Raizen to Kuronue's other side with Genkai beside the lightning apparition.
"Hmm, it feels so good to be back," the newcomer drawled before his eyes trained on Kotone. He ravaged her with a gaze of a purple hue, though red glistened in them. He stopped on her hair, watching the way the wind twirled it, lifting it up and letting it dance while no other breeze touched the others. "Oh..."
He strode closer, though ceased the movement when a feral growl came from more than one set of lips. Kuronue and Yuji had stiffened, the noise coming from them, while Raizen and Genkai merely readied themselves, should it be necessary.
To say the former king was still a bit perturbed at her was an understatement, but they had met common grounds. He would assist his ancestral family and her loved ones in exchange for being put back to rest when all of this was done. She consented, promising she would do everything in her power to keep Yusuke and his family just as safe in return. He had been a little less harsh with her after that.
Genkai had thoroughly cussed the moment her wits were about her- and flesh, for that matter-, all centered at how foolish all demons had become when it came to power struggles. The four demons had not liked it, but Kotone finally told them it was her way of saying hello and all matters were dropped.
It was not until the group of five had reached their destination that Genkai realized who the last two of their party would be. She had been pissed, but simmered silently for the most part. She knew they were necessary and was slowly coming to terms with that.
If they could even be controlled.
"It seems you have a few bodyguards," the demon murmured reaching out towards her. His hand stopped again when more growls surfaced. "Ah, ah!"
"Release me," Kotone grunted and shakily moved from Kuronue's grip. Yuji was more reluctant to release the female, but she shook him off anyways and moved closer. "Remember our agreement, Karasu."
"And I do, little Kotone." He did not hesitate this time in touching her ruby waves. "How... delightful. This might not be so crude after all."
Uneasiness settled in her stomach, but the wind demoness did not budge. Her eyes set hard and she glared at him. "Watch yourself, crow."
"My pleasure," he purred, removing his hand from her hair and glancing at his nude form with a smirk. "I believe I need some clothes."
"Yuji?"
The lightning demon threw a set at the crow's feet, still glowering angrily at the newcomer. As each male before him, Karasu tugged on the clothes in front of the group. They barely fit him, the pants rising up enough to meet his ankles and no further, and the shirt was absolutely ridiculous. He quickly discarded it, instead leaving his upper half bare. Raven locks pooled to his waist, straight as the stillest waters, yet still his eyes had stayed locked on Kotone. She had once heard his hair was truly golden, but figured the ritual had something to do with the current darkness of it. Perhaps the darkness of his other life had poisoned him, even in death.
"Enough," Kuronue broke the silence, feeling the tension. "Let us eat and rest before our final member joins us."
Each moved from the ominous field, what was once the site of a grand arena, and made their way out near the trees. Luckily for the five, the island had long since been deserted and only wildlife still called it their homes.
~:.:{Oh, Lord, Heaven Knows, We Belong Way Down Below}:.:~
"Have you thought better of our last addition yet?" Genkai mumbled with a scowl, the lovely voice still grating on Kotone's ears. It was obvious that a set of frightening eyes watched her as a predator would its prey, but she played it off as if she had not noticed.
"No I haven't. With his skill, and especially with it trained, he will be a remarkable ally," Kotone answered in just as hushed a tone. Raizen, Kuronue, and Yuji were sitting much closer to the fire, tearing into the wild deer they had cooked just moments before. The women had scraps of fabric in their laps, holding their own portions, but paid little mind to it right now. "My only worry is Kurama."
"You don't need to worry about the fox." The psychic bit into her meat. She was leaned against the tree next to the wind demoness. "Karasu may have made a scar within him, but even if the crow trained for a thousand years, he would not be able to even become a threat to him now that his demon can be called at will."
"Well, considering he did not know exactly what I was doing, I just assume it will be a shock to him when I show up with his supposedly dead partner and one of his supposedly dead foes. Not to mention Karasu was, for a short period, the bane of his existence." Kotone ravenously chomped on her deer, blood dribbling down her chin. The stare intensified, if that were even possible.
"You've already called Suzuka, then?" Genkai ignored the previous comments, having complete faith that Kurama would take it much better than the woman was worrying over. "With the extra you plan on bringing back, all of us will need special items to intensify our training to accommodate for the short time we have."
"I sent a message to your old temple via the wind. I'm sure one of the ladies will find a way to get it to Makai. I can't send notes through worlds, you know." Kotone had just about had enough of the eerie crow demon by this point. "Why is he so keen on me all of a sudden?"
"Dumbass," she huffed. "He wants to become more powerful and so far, he's sensed your strength. Not only that, but you aren't horrible to look at. The red hair has a lot to do with it. I know something was said of Kurama's during their fight."
"I'm stronger than him," stated the wind demoness. "I know that much."
"Then make sure he knows it too." The smirk Genkai gave her was more than enough.
The leg now devoured and her body far less ragged than before, Kotone stood and threw herself at Karasu before any could even catch her movements. Considering he was taller than her by leagues, she used the wind to hold her body up and lift him clean from his feet, her hand dangerously teetering on his throat.
"What the hell?" Kuronue mumbled in the background and she heard movement indicating multiple parties had stood.
"Stay back," she growled, never removing her eyes from Karasu. "You insolent wretch! Do you not think I haven't realized your unwavering gaze? I'm no fool, be warned of this now. Despite how long you once lived, I have been through more turmoil than you could imagine and I promise you, I can tear your body apart without using the enchantment to do so."
Karasu's smile was even more unnerving than his stare and she vaguely felt the presence of his bombs near her body. They did not come much closer, save one that exploded just near her face. It did not do extreme damage, except a small cut that angled across her cheek. The crow demon delicately wiped away the blood, the finger going towards his mouth and savoring the flavor.
"I once told Kurama the same," he began, his voice not even strained from the strangle-hold, "and that is 'there is nothing more intoxicating than watching one you care for die.'"
"If you suggest I hold any place in the slots of 'people you care for', your intelligence is sorely lacking," she hissed. Her claws dug into his neck just slightly, warning him, and his bombs disappeared into thin air. Blood trickled down her fingers and she sneered even wider at him. "I am the only thing keeping you alive at this point. I am sure that no one in this clearing wants you here. You only live still because you will be an instrument to end this war. Remember our agreement, and know that if you put one damn toe out of line, you will never have your full life restored."
"Yes, my lady," he laughed, the noise dark and ominous.
Kotone set him on his feet again, lowering to the ground and keeping her close proximity. Her eyes bore into his violet ones, anger welling in the pit of her stomach by just looking at the smug grin on his face. She wanted to kill him, but she needed his skills.
"This time, Karasu, and only this time will I allow you to live." She turned and stalked away from him, passing by the other males in the process. "Yuji, Kuronue, keep your eyes on him. Raizen, do as you want. I know you won't be taking orders from me easily."
"At least she's smart." Raizen gave his own lopsided smirk.
"I'll make sure he stays in line," Kuronue snarled, his eyes darting to Karasu. "He might have been your only mistake so far."
"And we thought it was Raizen when he was trying to eat us," mumbled the irritable wind demoness. "I need rest." With this said, she leapt into a nearby tree and leaned her body against the trunk, legs resting on a branch. She vaguely heard Genkai taking the one next to her. "Goodnight, hag. It's nice to have you back."
"Yeah, let's just hope the dimwit doesn't shit his pants."
"I was actually hoping for it."
Kotone went to sleep with a little joy in her heart, lightened by the psychic.
~:.:{Caught In The Eye of a Dead Man's Lie, Show You Life With Your Head Held High}:.:~
"Koenma, sir!" Botan, as always, did not knock on the Spirit Prince's door, instead barging in on the frantic deity. The toddler was engulfed by hordes of ogres, trying to figure out the puzzle of just what was happening in Reikai.
"Botan, what is it now? Can't you see we have a crisis on our hands?" Koenma screamed, his brow twitching. "OGRES! GET OUT NOW! DON'T MAKE ME KICK YOU ASSES!"
It took a few moments to register before all but the ever-faithful Jorge fled from the room, the door slamming behind them and leaving the office in a haggard mess of papers.
"Another soul has left Spirit World," the Grim Reaper explained heatedly. "We can't figure out what is going on!"
"Half-soul is more like it, Botan." Koenma stood on top of his desk and paced, suckling his pacifier with a vengeance. "I haven't been able to get any news from Yusuke and the others thanks to this damn war."
"King Enma is on the verge of joining now that it has started to affect his world," she whispered, eyes wide in fear. "He thinks someone is stealing the souls straight from under his nose."
"And that's precisely what is happening. Botan, come closer." The woman did as she was told while Koenma unraveled a scroll. "I received this a short time ago, but it doesn't help me any."
"'Don't worry. Everything is going as planned. Trust me. Signed, -K'?" Botan blinked heavily at the parchment. "I don't understand."
"We know quite a lot of people with connections to this world that start with a 'K', but it could be a nickname." Koenma adjusted his hat nervously. "It could be Kurama, Koume, Kotone, Kuwabara, or just about anyone!"
"Well, we have been able to locate Koume, Kuwabara, and Kurama. The men are at war and Koume is still at Genkai's temple." Botan pulled at her hair. "Kotone, now she's another story. We still can't find her anywhere!"
"It must be her then. The handwriting is horrible, so I wouldn't doubt it." The Spirit Prince took a seat, legs dangling over desk. "Does she not realize what could happen now that she's taking a part of souls from Spirit World?!"
"Not just any souls, sir," mumbled the blue ogre, long forgotten in the room.
"Who has she taken... if it is Kotone at least?" Botan bit her lip at the hard look she received from the prince.
"A lot of dangerous ones. First, there was Kuronue's-"
"The bat that was partnered with Youko Kurama?" gasped the Grim Reaper.
"Yes, the very same. Now, hush Botan!" She closed her lips tightly. "Then there was Yuji Takanari, Kotone's old ally and a threat to our world. Raizen's soul is half-missing, Genkai's-"
"GENKAI'S?!" Botan nearly fell over from shock. "That's not possible..."
"Believe me, it is," he snorted. "And just recently, Karasu's has gone partially missing."
"Oh my!" Botan covered her mouth with her hands. "But he was nothing but solid evil! If he's loose, there's no telling what could happen."
"Yes, I agree. And it just seems like an odd group to be gathering, if you ask me. I don't know who is doing this, but if it is Kotone, she's in deep trouble with my father. If he finds out a woman whose head he wanted so badly a hundred years ago is doing this, he'll make good on old threats." Koenma gulped dramatically. "Botan, I need you to go to Makai and Ningenkai to find out what is going on."
"Yes sir, I'll do my best." Botan was on her oar in a matter of seconds, hovering in the air. "I'll keep in touch."
"God speed," called the Spirit Prince before he slunk down onto his desk. "You better know what you're doing..."
Next in 'Revelation, Defamation':
Kotone did know her consequences, but she was ready for them. But now was not the time to worry over the details; she had finally resuscitated the last of her undead army. They needed to get busy training, regardless of their dispositions to one another. And now, someone else had come to their private little island. Three newcomers had arrived, awaiting orders and bringing mixed emotions with their reunion.