Author's Note: I never realized how close this story is to ending. We maybe have about another 3 chapters to go- I haven't written them yet, so I'm not completely sure- before we see the Epilogue. I hope all of you enjoy!

Song for Chapter:
Hate It When You See Me Cry - Halestorm, The Strange Case Of...

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Shura

Hell rained upon the troops surrounding Yomi on the light of the next day, bringing with it rivers of blood and body parts.

Kotone, Karasu, and Kuronue, alongside the few Fire Clan members, burst from the trees and leveled hundreds with pure brute strength before the masses even had the time to regroup. Flanked by Karasu's deadly bomb creatures, Kotone and Karasu fell from the sky and tore any in their path asunder. They would be the harbingers of death this time; Yomi would not have the opportunity.

The wind demon saw red the moment she made out those pristine white tents. Her daughter was likely bathed in her own blood, hidden away within one of those damned little hideouts. Her wind flew from her hands, circling around her in a devastating fashion that tore many of those very edifices from the ground and sent them flying. Yet, for every one she sent careening away from the battle, it appeared two more were standing just behind it. She would never find her daughter at this rate.

"I know you!"

She barely dodged the mighty blow aimed at her side, snarling beneath her breath at the severity of the hole that had been formed where she had just been standing. She had heard that voice before as well, though it was long ago when the three great kings of Makai were supposedly allies. She had always hated him...

Shura had an attitude problem.

"Do you want to fight me, little boy?" she snapped at him, her fingers dancing with the element she was so proud of. "I would run back to your father if I were you."

"Oh? As you would run to your daughter, if you could find her?" Shura, an adult and resembling Yomi in so many ways, barked with laughter.

Kotone could not deal with his petulance; she dwarfed him in age and, though he may have a height advantage over the wind demoness, that had never stopped her before. It was time to take payback on the King of Gandara for stealing her child and torturing her using one of their closest friends.

She could remember watching Yomi in training with his son many years ago on a visit to Kurama, shortly after she had birthed Avaron. It had been a chance for her daughter to meet her uncle, fox or not, and had been a pleasant visit. Above all, that encounter had taught her one thing...

Shura was easily angered when he was belittled in comparison to his father.

"You are nothing compared to your wretched kin, child! You shame his name with your very existence." Kotone grinned as she saw the red tinging his cheeks, burning into his ears. "I'd rather fight him, not some newborn that hardly has a third of the strength of Yomi."

"You bitch! I am better than my father!"

Shura descended upon her as a madman would, flailing both arms and legs in an attempt to hit the elusive demoness. Hiei had been sparring with her for centuries; Shura was nothing in comparison to her mate when it came to speed. She easily dodged anything sent her way, until a blast of energy singed at her clothing.

This was all too easy.

The wind lashed out around her, sending the woman catapulting over the boy's head. Just as she was atop him, her head directly above his, that same wind began to spin in opposite directions, reserved only for the two of them. This was an advantage she had been saving, but to take the life of Yomi's child was well worth the strain it might put on her body. She had become more proficient at altering time, and training it solely on two beings would allow her to keep moving.

"Die, fool!"

Her katana fell straight into his skull, burying itself to the hilt. Shura gurgled blood as time began to respond around them at a normal pace once more, but he was beyond saving. As Kotone finishing her leap over him, all in the span of seconds, she removed her katana and let the boy's body fall in a heap to the dirt. Blood splattered her gilded armor and she laughed, so joyously that any around her might think her mad.

Just as she was celebrating her macabre victory over Shura of Gandara, explosions rocked the camp, desolating half of it with sheer devastation. She recognized the scent wafting off the bombs as Karasu's and turned, bolting to that same crow demon and grabbing his collar.

"You could kill Ava, damn it!" she hissed. "Watch what you're doing!"

"Of course," he replied easily, pushing her hands from his clothing. "I suppose that would be your child, Kotone? She has your beautiful hair. Oh, and I recognize that face." Karasu's grin widened and the wind demoness glanced in the direction he was fixated.

"Ava! Kurama!" She rushed to them, leaping over Shura's body as she did, and stopped just before a battered Ava, unconscious in the arms of the fox. "What happened? The explosions-"

"I got her out in time," Kurama told her gently. "Avaron is fine, though I believe she needs to be taken from the area immediately." His green eyes glanced behind her, hardening, and Kotone sensed the familiar presence. "I assume you used the seeds to bring back the dead? I worried you might do so. Why did you choose him of all people, Ko?"

She pushed Karasu back with her elbow, forcing him from salivating on the fox as she thought he might. "He has proven useful and very loyal when it comes to a select few." Regardless, she eyed him warily out of her peripheral vision.

"Oi, that your kid?" Kuronue dropped from the sky beside the wind demoness. "Looks just like you."

"Kuronue, can you take Ava somewhere safe? I suggest the fortress in Tourin, as we aren't far." Kotone turned to her companion.

"Kuronue?" Kurama stared in awe at the man. "You brought back... Kuronue?"

"Hmm?" The bat stepped close to the fox, eyeing him skeptically. "Kurama, is that you? You look weird."

"There's no time for this!" Kotone clapped her hands, feeling the heat of war on her back and the screams of the troops being slaughtered by the Fire Clan. "Kuronue, get her out of here, now! We can do this later and drink in celebration!"

"Got it!" Kuronue snatched up the unconscious girl from Kurama. "Later, Kurama!"

As he ascended into the sky, Kurama and Kotone stared after him, paying no mind to the crow hovering too close for mortal comfort. Kurama had a look on his face Kotone had not seen in a long time, one of regret, but also of elation. His former partner was alive, as temporary as it was.

"Kotone," Karasu drawled, clasping his hands on her shoulders. "I believe Yomi is nearby. Do you want to face him now, or should we let him find the remains of that child that looks so alike to him?"

"You killed Shura?" Kurama chewed at his bottom lip. "I believe it best we retreat for now, at least until after his rage has subsided."

"I think you're right. Let's collect the Fire Clan and move to the outskirts until Yomi is done throwing a tantrum."

The three of them left, unaware that another group had arrived just in time to join in the fray.

~:.:{When I'm Not As Tough As I Should Be, And You See The Softest Part Of Me}:.:~

Yuji Kaze Tsukai had no idea of what his mother had just done. Avaron was safe, but Shura was dead, and Yomi was on a war path the moment he saw his dead clone. Despite this, Yuji moved onward, slaying any in his path with Izume and the Wind Twins hot on his heels. They were nearly untouchable as a group, nearly.

He was also unaware that Yomi had picked up the scent of his mother all over the deceased Shura, sending his rage into something akin to insanity. That same scent covered Yuji, as he was very much like his beloved mother, and it lead the King of Gandara and perpetrator of this entire war straight to him.

"Little Yuji." The words were said in a languid drawl, resembling a growl. "Do you know what your mother has done?"

Yuji turned, shoving Izume out of the way just in time to dodge an attack from Yomi. He called, "She's here?"

"She killed my son!" Yomi's hands clenched, drawing blood, and the blind demon smiled pleasantly at the young Kaze Tsukai. "I think I should repay that debt, don't you?"

"Izume," Yuji whispered harshly as realization dawned on him. "Get the girls and regroup in Tourin. If my mother was here, she has already saved Avaron and left."

"I won't leave you to face him alone!" Izume cried, the markings of the Mazoku prominent on her pale skin. "Yuji, I-"

"Go!"

She had no choice; the wind picked up Izume's lithe body and sent her flying, literally, from any danger.

"What a noble thing to do for someone you love."

Yomi descended upon him, and Yuji Kaze Tsukai knew he stood no chance against the Blind King.

~:.:{I Hate It When I Let You Down, When Your Smile Turns Around}:.:~

Hiei had been on the frontlines, slaying every living creature that opposed him, when he felt something wrong in the world. He stopped, tearing the head off a demon as he did so, and furrowed his brows.

"Something the matter, Hiei?" Yusuke called, agitated that the demon had stopped in the middle of the slaughter. He leapt over to stand at his friend's side, noticing the distress brimming in his red eyes but refusing to show on his stoic face. "Hiei?"

The Jagan glowed, no longer secured by the bandanna, and he closed his eyes in concentration. Mukuro's scent permeated his nose, nearly causing the demon to gag, and her presence was so prominent nearby, he had trouble focusing further out on the war. When he did at last break free of the curse that was the King of Alaric, he sensed the inevitable.

"I need to speak with Mukuro." Hiei flashed off without waiting to hear what Yusuke had to say.

Because the fire demon knew something horrible was about to happen to one of the few people he loved in this world, and he also knew he would never make it in time. He was unaware of just who, but he could sense the youki flares of Yomi and the desperation of one of his kin.

"Mukuro," he snapped when he leapt atop her fortress nearby.

Mukuro had been watching the scenes unfold below, occasionally sending out some of her familiar ki to eradicate hordes at a time. She ceased her bursts of joy to stare at the demon, the love she carried- and obsession- brimming in her single normal eye. Hiei frowned when he noticed it.

"Hiei," she said fondly, sliding over to wrap her arms lightly around the demon. He fought everything in him not to push her off, knowing he needed to abide by her to get his way. "What's the matter?"

"We need to progress into the camps of Yomi," he ground out as she rubbed against him, felt the heat wafting off her core at the mere sight of him. It disgusted the fire demon. "Now."

"Why the rush? We're winning now!" She laughed, ignoring the scowl that burdened her beloved in the process. "Is it your mate, Hiei?"

He had to pretend he no longer cared for Kotone, but the action was becoming harder with how long they had been truly apart from one another. He hardly counted the brief interaction with her on the battlefield, as he could not envelope her and take her as he wished. Mukuro was always watching, and it was crucial that she stayed on their side, as temporary as it was.

"It is my offspring," he said cautiously, biting his tongue to the point of blood to keep from spewing out more than was necessary. "I sense danger."

"Why worry? Your children are as traitorous as your mate! Even then, they are strong enough to hold their own." Mukuro slid her hand into his pants and Hiei nearly lost all sanity, and not because of what she latched onto.

His rage was beginning to tinge his skin.

"Go back to the battle, Hiei," she whispered sensually in his ear. "Once we get done here, we can move on, and so much more."

As she released him, Hiei did not hesitate in leaping from the crazed woman, panting at the strain it took to keep from killing her. He could still feel the warm touch of her hand on his member, gently tightening on it and trying to rouse something other than hatred from the fire demon.

He was still flaccid.

'Kotone,' he tried in a desperate attempt to reach out to his mate telepathically. 'If you aren't too far to hear this, Yuji is in danger. Go to him.'

~:.:{I'm Here To Save The World, But Who Will Save Super Girl}:.:~

Kotone was studying the desolated camps of Yomi, trying to find a point for their next attack that would deal the most damage. Kurama and Karasu were each at her sides, quiet and calculating as she had become. They needed to make more of an edge, and that involved concentration to strike where they would do the most damage.

That is, until she heard the soft voice of her mate in her head.

"Yuji?" Kotone's face paled; Hiei would only concern himself with one Yuji, their son. If he was there, after she had killed Shura... "No..."

She bolted into the fray, ignoring Kurama's call or Karasu's blatant stare. She could feel the light tickle of wind being manipulated not far from her, and that meant her fears were true. Her son had come, and from the youki flaring around her, she knew he had been confronted by the one demon he should never face.

Kotone arrived where she had felt the familiar presence, but stopped in her tracks when her eyes met the blinded face of Yomi. He was smiling at her, one reserved only for the times in his life he planned on doing something demented, but that was hardly what caught her attention.

Yuji Kaze Tsukai was beaten and nearly unconscious, held by his long hair against Yomi's front. He stared at his mother, his blue eyes swimming with both fear and sorrow at what was happening around them.

Yomi's hand was buried in his chest.

"YUJI!"

"Revenge, Kotone," Yomi snarled, and with a single twitch of his fingers, he crushed her son's heart.

And in turn, Kotone's as well.

~:.:{I Hate It... I Hate It When You See Me Cry}:.:~

Koenma stalked to the lair of his father, where Enma was commanding the troops and watching the attempt to break through the barrier of Makai. He had found the very thing he was looking for, buried away in his private vault that none, save Botan and Jorge, knew about. His mother, many millennia ago, had left him something if this very occasion should occur.

Because, before her death, she had seen the darkness blooming inside her husband, King Enma. She had been a powerful entity as well, and had loved him for so long, she knew any weakness the King of Reikai might have.

"Koenma, are you sure this will work?"

"It might take my life, but it will," Koenma promised her. "If it does, Botan, I need you to take over Reikai. Be the new ruler and be a just one. And tell Kotone to give back the damn souls she took. Put her behind bars for a little while for it, just enough to learn a lesson."

"Sir," she cried, standing in front of him. "Jorge and I won't allow you to risk your life for something that might not work."

Koenma smiled despondently at the two of them, his only real friends in Reikai. "All I have to do is get near him with this and my father's life will be taken. It will undoubtedly take mine as well, but I will do this to save Makai. Well, what's left of it when the demons are done. If I don't, Ningenkai will be the next to end and the apocalypse will be upon us."

"How does it work?" Jorge asked quietly, staring at the ring Koenma held up. It was massive; the Queen had been a large woman, like Enma, and her wedding ring could easily be a necklace for any of the three.

"I just force some reiki into it," Koenma explained, "the moment I'm within my father's presence." He stared at it, reminiscing over everything and everyone he would leave behind. "It takes any reiki from the being holding it and uses it to seal away my father's soul. He will be imprisoned in it forever, as my mother had hoped would never pass. She did this as a precaution, because even she could see how my father despised Makai. No one deserves to die in the way he wishes."

Jorge and Botan did not ask another question of the man, instead following after the man that was ready to sacrifice himself for the well-being of millions.

Reikai deserved such an honorable king, if only his life would be spared.

Next in 'Revelation, Defamation':
Yuji was dead; Kotone's little boy was gone. He had been the embodiment of purity in her, and now what did she have? Vengeance would not be so sweet. So many things were left to be done, but now... she had to dig a grave for one of the few people she loved above all in this desolate life... again.