Author's Note: So...How much do yo9u guys hate me right now? I'm so incredibly sorry for being gone for so long. Life decided it hates me, to say the least. I've been without my computer for about a year, so I couldn't even write up my posts. I lost my home, so I'm living with a friend's family until my mom can get approved for disability, and I've been working two jobs just to survive. I haven't forgotten about all of you though. I came back as soon as I could! My computer is mostly fixed, so I can write again, and I now have the green light to write when I'm at work, so I promise to post as soon as I can as I finish. I don't have interwebz at home, so it takes me lugging my laptop to places with wifi. With my schedule...that won't be as regular as I'd like. But, with that being said, I will post as I finish, so who knows: maybe that will mean two to three chapters in one go sometimes since writing is the only thing keeping me sane between making jewelry. I finally have my shop open though. Check it out; Ria's Trinkets and Charms.
Love you guys, I hope this post is worth the wait!
P.S: I lost my Microsoft word, so I lack spell check. Please ignore the misspelled words as best as you can until I'm able to fix it.
"What are they doing now?"
"More talking."
"At least they're not making out anymore…"
"Child."
"What did you say, Half-pint?!"
Hiei easily sidestepped the attempt to squash him before leaping up into the tree he was hiding behind with Kuwabara. There was a decidedly loud jingle to his landing, which brought a smile to his otherwise annoyed visage. He was half tempted to pull the entire contents of his pocket free so he could recount every dollar and coin. It was more for show anyway: Hiei had no need or care for human money. However, it was a hefty enough sum to bat a lash at. Plus, it annoyed Kuwabara, so every cent of the ¥206,630* was worth the slight weight in his pocket.
Kazuma glared upwards, still too sluggish to pose any kind of threat to the diminutive demon. Every clink and rustle the ill-gotten money made sent jolts of indignant rage up the youth's spine, but all he could do was curl his fist and plot all the things he was going to do once he was well enough to catch the rodent. He couldn't wait. Kazuma was about to say more on the subject, but blue and red caught the corner of his eye. Thinking fast, but moving slow, the carrot top floundered for a place to hide.
Hiei was fortunately faster in both thought and action. Dropping from the tree, Hiei tackled the massive oaf into the bushes and out from sight. They had been lucky so far: both were too weak even without masking their strength to trip anyone's radar. That and they had taken the additional precaution of dousing themselves in the cheapest cologne they could find.
Chances were they were already found out, but Hiei wanted to think that Kurama was so distracted by his ardor for Botan that maybe he didn't realize he was being followed. He really didn't want to explain why he and Kuwabara were spending their time spying, instead of hunting for Yusuke's soul fragment. It was…kind of embarrassing. How would Hiei even begin: The others made me do it? That wouldn't go over well at all.
Kurama may be the most liberal of the group, but he was also very protective of his woman. For all he knew, there were gathering ammo for future teasing. Hiei didn't really want to be hung by his ankles again.
Botan and Kurama left the fortune teller's tent arm in arm, chatting about their individual divinations. More like it was Botan talking and Kurama listening intently with that loving smile of his. Botan knew to be curious about what Kurama had gotten, but chose to wait for him to volunteer the information. Her foretelling was good: better than anything Botan could give. It was nice though. "It's great to know that my falling won't be all gloom and doom."
"As I've told you," Kurama grinned with his arm tightening around her waist. He lowered his lips to Botan's neck to press a decidedly less than innocent kiss there.
Botan giggled at the caress of his breath over the little baby hairs at her neck. It sent a shiver of sensation down her spine to bring about a little coo. For a moment, she lost herself to the feeling of Kurama's lips on her skin, growing addicted to his affections. "You're biased, so you don't count," she only barely managed between her giggles. Kurama always seemed to tell her what she wanted to hear; the dear heart. Whether or not it was intentional was a mystery, which Botan absolutely loved since it showed how much he cared for her. At the same time, it made knowing the correct answers to the hard questions next to impossible.
So, in Kurama's case, validation to his amazing and sweet words were necessary. Sometimes. Other times, Botan was more than happy to wrap herself in the safety blanket of Kurama's kindness and love. It made her feel spoiled and cared for. The fox had a gift for it, and the means to back up his claims and promises. Botan just worried about what it meant later down the line when it came time to deliver. When Kurama said 'everything was going to be alright,' there was usually a body count and maybe a few gruesome injuries. Needless to say, the young woman had a healthy need for assurance from outside sources.
A bubble of laughter burst from Kurama's lips, one that was unexpected by both parties given the darkness that cast a shadow over the topic at hand. Kurama did have a bias. He knew this. The male also knew that he had a tendency to go above and beyond when it came to the validating of his statements. He was a liar by trade, but not to Botan. "So, if someone else says these things, they'll count?" Good to know. Mirth danced in his eyes regardless, since he knew the answer to the question.
"Well, not anyone," Botan grinned before a familiar rumble in her stomach pulled the expression from her face. Why was she hungry all of a sudden? Didn't she just eat? A quick check of the time had glowing amethysts widening in shock as their owner realized that time had flown by. Served her right for not paying attention, but where did the day go?
Her beloved had a better grasp of the time of day, though not by much. As such, he was already scanning the surrounding area for a suitable location for the two of them. The only one that presented itself currently was an italian restaurant, which didn't appeal to him since they had italian the night before last. There was only one choice really, since all other locations were packed. "Why don't we go ahead and grab some lunch? There's an open air café that we passed a little ways back." Kurama would have to deal with the limited options. Even if the place was...girly, for a lack of a better word.
"Okay," she grinned, knowing exactly which one Kurama was talking about. Botan had been there once before with Keiko and Yukina. The service was grand, the sandwiches were delicious, and the sweets were orgasmic. It was one of their favorite places to go whenever they had time together without their boys.
"Where are they going now?"
"Do I look like a mind reader to you?! How should I know?"
"Could have fooled me, you old bat! Weren't you just bragging about your perfect eyesight?"
"How sweet, Shuichii and Botan are rubbing noses,"
"Take notes, Moriko, you want a man that treats you as good as your brother treats Botan."
The four tailed vixen nodded in agreement to her mother's words, ignoring Atsuko and Genkai's usual banter in favor of sighing in the direction of her brother and Botan. Kurama was so lucky to have found love, which made Moriko's heart swell with joy. But if anyone deserved it more than he did, Botan did. That's what made the moment all the more glorious.
"I think we all do at some point," Shiori found herself voicing as her own romantic troubles took the forefront of her thoughts for a brief moment. It wasn't that she envied her son, or regretted the divorce that was looming over her head. It was just that there was a part of her that needed someone to be there. When she married Hatanaka, Shiori thought she had found someone to fill the void her son would leave once he left. Her baby was growing up after all, and soon she would be alone with no one to give her attentions too.
The prospect of living for herself, by herself, was not a pleasant thought to her in that moment. The desire to be a mother, if only for a moment longer, simply made an ache form in her heart. If she had someone, then maybe she could distract herself long enough to accept that her nest was soon to be empty.
A gentle hand pressed against the woman's back, pulling Shiori from her motherly woes and guiding her back to the present. "He wasn't going to be your baby forever," Atsuko told her. Having lost her son multiple times, she understood exactly where Shiori was coming from. Empty nest syndrome was a bitch and a half to deal with.
"Look on the bright side," Aigyou offered, taking Shiori's other side. She had grown past the feelings that gripped both the mothers' hearts and was now able to offer a level of wisdom. It wasn't much for the right now, but it offered a bright light at the end of the tunnel. "If all things go well, we'll have grandbabies to share."
Like a switch, Shiori's entire continence shifted then. From melancholy to ecstatic, Shiori gave a little clap as a new dream filled her mind. Grandchildren. Little Shuichis. Little Botans. Babies of her baby. Thoughts of all the different ways she was going to spoil them ran around in her head. "If they had children, just imagine how beautiful they'd be!"
"It's only a matter of time," Genkai observed, knowing from observation of the male half of the universe that Kurama would look for any and every possible way to heal Botan of her scar. Once done, chances were the couple wouldn't see the light of day for a solid month: Mating time or not. "I bet in the next couple months, we'll be throwing a baby shower for their litter."
Magic words to be sure, given the fact that gambling fever had struck during the last bet. Atsuko couldn't help herself but take the crone up on her offer. "How much you willin' to put down on that?"
"No time! Let's hurry before we lose them!" Aigyou declared upon Moriko's flapping and pointing for attention.
They found their way back with no problems, and were seated in even less time than it took to get there. Kurama and Botan were both pleased to see that they were given a quieter section of the fenced off café. A high awning shielded them from the hot rays of the sun, casting shade enough to drop the temperature down by at least ten degrees. Fortunately, the day was hot as it was supposed to be so the shade was more than welcome.
Botan draped her jacket over the back of her seat, hiding her purse underneath its denim folds. Kurama did the same with his own jacket, revealing a light cotton button up shirt that was such a thin white that it didn't take much to see straight through it. The sleeves had been rolled up to reveal Kurama's forearms, which were dotted with faint scars from past battles.*
Botan paid them no mind, having grown so used to them that they didn't even register. At most, they merely added to Kurama's beauty. At the least, they weren't even noticed. She focused instead on how happy Kurama looked. His aura was so bright that it was near blinding. It warmed her heart just to see it. Kurama was always so serious or stressed; it was good to see him so relaxed. Going on this date was the best idea in the world. Botan smiled brightly, her face flushing.
Kurama's leg and foot hooked around one of hers beneath the table. "What are you thinking about?" Kurama asked easily.
Startled by Kurama's inquiry, Botan simply blinked at him before lowering her eyes. The faint flush darkened over her cheeks as the smile grew. She peeked at him through her lashes as she tried to wave off her silent musings. "Nothing."
The answer only gave rise to Kurama's curiosity. "Come on, you can tell me." The smile was far too adorable to not to want to know why. As such, he offered a roguish half smile that had been a tried and true method to pry whatever he wanted from the opposite sex. They were an item now; no secrets. No matter how silly.
"Well, I never really get to see you this happy. I'm glad," she finally admitted after further prodding.
Kurama was taken aback by the statement. He wasn't expecting it. Reflecting on his past, Kurama knew it was true that he didn't allow himself to surrender to the simple joys of life. It wasn't until recently that he ever truly had fun. He had Yusuke and the others to thank for that. For today's happiness, gratitude fell solely on Botan's shoulders. "Being with you makes me happy."
"Oh, Kurama," Botan blushed.
What would have been a moment was interrupted by the arrival of their waitress. The couple would have preferred if she waited just a moment longer. Kurama had been part of the way to claim another kiss from his beloved. "Hi, welcome to Cafe Mew Mew, I'm Ichigo and I'll be your waitress this lovely afternoon. Is there anything I can start you out with?"*
"I'll have strawberry lemonade please," Botan piped up, already knowing what she wanted off the menu down to dessert. She didn't even need it. Such was how frequent she and the girls visited the establishment. A strange sense of sadness flitted past her mind for the briefest of moments, reminding Botan of the dangers that waited for them upon the date's end. When would be the next time she would be able to have a girl's day? Would she be able to once all was said and done?
"Make that two please." As if he knew what she had been thinking, Kurama's hand reached across the table to lace his fingers with hers. He drew no further attention to the frown that tugged at the corner of her lips, only gave comfort.
"Two strawberry lemonades, coming up!"
"I'm going to be right back," Botan announced after the adorable waitress trotted off to put in their drink orders. "I have to go use the little girl's room," which was the story she gave. Checking in with Hiei and Kuwabara real quick wouldn't hurt any, right? It would just be a quick in and out to make sure that both of the boys were doing their job and not beating each other up or wasting time in some other fashion.
"Alright," Kurama nodded before pulling Botan's face down for a quick kiss. He watched her go afterwards while licking his lips of the last remnants of Botan's lip gloss.
Botan's blush deepened to crimson before she turned away from Kurama's predatory gaze. That man was going to be the end of her, Botan just knew it.
"What are they doing now?"
"She's leaving...going to the bathroom it looks like."
"What would possess her to leave her alone in a place like this? It's crawling with women just dying for a chance to snatch him up."
"I highly doubt there's a woman on this planet that could take him away from her. Just look at him," Shizuru held up the binoculars for Maya to peer through, straining her eyes all the while to watch the scene unfolding before her in the distance. Trying to stay downwind of Kurama's nose was a lot harder than she initially thought, so that made spying increasingly difficult. They were so far, she could barely see anything. Why did she only bring one pair of binoculars anyway? "Can you read their lips, Mokuro?"
"Nothing much to read," the Demon Lord sighed, leaning against the wall and trying to feign disinterest in the events unfolding in the distance. But inside, she was enjoying the drama unfolding before her eyes. She'd never openly admit it, but this was growing to be an entertaining endeavor. Slowly, but surely, the woman was starting to understand the female obsession with romantic dramas and comedies. Granted, things could be a bit more action packed. "He's chatting with the waitress about what tastes good on the menu." The waitress looked absolutely delectable. Would anyone notice her missing?*
The sound of Shizuru's phone ringing startled the group, resulting in the previously silent Keiko and Yukina shushing the contraption as if it was a cognizant object. It was paranoia that prompted the action, even though everyone knew- or rather hoped that Kurama's hearing wasn't so good that it would be able to pick out Shizuru's ringtone out of the sounds of the downtown area.
"Shhhhhh!?" She snapped into the mouthpiece, turning the phone onto speaker when she saw that it was Atsuko and her group. "You're gonna get us caught!"
"We're starting a new betting pool, you guys in?" Atsuko cheered into the phone, ignoring the illogical concerns of the group.
"Bet?" They were all ears now. The memory of how much money now lined Hiei's pockets sealed their fates.
Botan returned to find Kurama laughing at something the little waitress said. It wasn't a full bodied one, just a pleasant humoring one that he usually gave when he knew that laughing was the proper course of action. Botan smiled just the same. The hard lines that usually made Kurama's posture were relaxed and smoothed out. He was completely at ease to a point where he was even leaning back in his seat. The front two legs were lifted off the ground and one of Kurama's arms was thrown over the back of his chair. Kurama's long legs kept him grounded, though Botan knew that the balancing act wasn't necessary. He'd grown taller it seemed, larger too.
What was once teased as a feminine form* had broadened a great deal over the years she'd known him. It was almost funny how Botan never really allowed herself the chance to notice the differences of the before and after. When Kurama spotted her, his entire expression became increasingly genuine as he waved her over. The waitress turned to do the same, bouncing in place due to the force of her enthusiasm. She was a cute kitten.
"Welcome back, I was beginning to think I'd lost you." Kurama teased.
Botan just stuck out her tongue at him before claiming her seat across from him again. "You couldn't lose me even if you tried."
"Thank the gods for that," Kurama didn't know what he'd do without her.
The two didn't know how much time had passed while they ate, laughed, and simply enjoyed each other. It was by far one of the best days of their lives. There was no question in that regard, and both sent a silent wish that it would last forever.
If only wishes and dreams had the power to sway the fates. Merciless, and sometimes cruel, the hand they dealt was stacked against them.
They had no warning. Only a flash of light and a clap of thunder as storm clouds rolled over the city to consume the setting sun behind an impenetrable wall of black. The wind changed direction just as suddenly and grew in strength, kicking up familiar scents that had no place within the city. The familiar bitter sweetness of stagnant youki made all the sweet smells of the cafe turn sour.
Botan made a noise of complaint, spitting her bite of shortcake into a napkin as the scent made the food taste rotten in her mouth. The reaction was mirrored by most of the other patrons, resulting in the waitresses scuttling around from table to table to investigate. Their own energies flared to counterbalance the malice, revealing themselves to be demons to Kurama's and Botan's senses. None were a threat, so the couple left the cafe with only a glance between them. Behind them, the payment for their meal was left with a more than generous tip.
Kurama didn't even bother going around; he just hopped the fence only to crash into a group of familiar faces. "Mother? M-mother?!" He stared at both his human and Reigen mothers incredulously, not knowing how to take their presence so close to the cafe they just so happened to be by.
"Genkai?" Botan gasped, landing only moments later behind Kurama. "Atsuko? What are you guys doing here?"
"We were just going to treat ourselves to a nice dinner," Aigyou lied smoothly. She would have smiled if the scent of wickedness wasn't filling her lungs. Now was really not the time for feigned coincidences. "But there seems to be someone out to ruin all our plans."
"Will you be safe getting home?" Kurama pressed, smelling the air in search of the youki's origin. It was strange how he could smell it, and not feel it. Part of him wanted to think it was a fault within the owner of the energy, but Kurama knew he was never so lucky when it came to his opponents.
"Of course dear," Aigyou assured him, grabbing her daughter Moriko's hand and starting in the opposite direction of the scent. Shiori and Atsuko were ushered ahead of her by Genkai, whom was acting as their rear guard. "Look after Dearest Kit for me." If her baby maker was ruined, Shiori's and her plans would be ruined. They needed grandchildren.
"Always. Now go, quickly." Kurama's vow was mirrored by his body language. His body tensed and coiled, ready to spring at the slightest provocation as he searched for any sign of the youki's owner.
Spikes of energy rained down from the clouds to shatter concrete as easily as one would fragile glass. Botan had a second to react, and enough forewarning to do so. It was more than what Kurama had, but he didn't seem to need it as he managed to dance out of the way of one particularly nasty one. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get out of the way for something much bigger. "LOOK OUT!" A familiar voice cried out, the loud bellow reverberating within Botan's cranium painfully. It cleaved through the tension that chorded within her body, springing Botan into action. She launched herself forward, tackling Kurama to the ground.
The small bolts converged where they were once standing just as the couple landed several feet away. Fragments of concrete and asphalt exploded outwards to embed deep into walls and shatter windows. Any damage that would have been inflicted onto Botan was prevented. As quick as the tackle, Kurama rolled them over so that his body was stretched out over her own to shield her. The debris rained down over them, but there wasn't a sound of complaint even as a larger piece bruised his knuckles.
Neither had time enough to do more than just roll over again as another bolt raced after them. Both sprang onto their feet in time to avoid another. Then another. As if to herd the couple, the charges of malicious youki chased the two towards the open field.
The wind howled as it kicked up grass and leaves in tiny dervishes, rushing hard against the two. It wrapped around their bodies, trying to wedge them apart. The scent of damp earth and ozone hung heavy as the first vestiges of rain descended from the sky of black. Each drop was like acid against their skin, sizzling as they caressed their way down exposed reddening flesh. Clothes did little to shield the burn, but still Kurama tried by draping his leather jacket over Botan's head. This exposed more of his body to the corosive waters, but the yoko would rather he burn than his beloved.
Each time the wind picked up, a semblance of relief was felt as it cooled the welts. The thin cotton of his shirt plastered to his skin as the scent of spring spiked. It coalecsed around him to form a solid mass of relief. Wind and scent became flesh and warmth that pressed hard against him. "Hello lover," came a breathy moan preceeding a long drag of a tongue over his pulse. A warm breath gusted over the trail of warmth, creating a pleasurable chill that crawled down Kurama's spine.
Kurama turned sharply, claws extended and a low bark escaped his lips. His emerald eyes flashed golden as he took in the image of Kimiko. There was no lust in Kurama's eyes, only raw, unbridled fury. Violently, Kurama swiped his palm over his neck to remove the trail of saliva as if it burned as violently as the acid rain. All the while, he pulled Botan closer to his side as if to keep her safe from the very sight of the fae.
"What are you doing here?" Botan snapped, clinging to Kurama tighter as the possessive urges compelled her. How she hated the faerie. If there was a doubt in her mind about Kurama's love, or if there ever would be, Botan was certain that Kimiko would in some way be involved. She was still recovering from the last dose of self doubt the gorgeous super-model with the personality of a goblin gave her.
Rather than answer her, the woman leered down at Kurama as her great wings fluttered behind her. Her lips pursed into a seductive pout. "It's not nice to cheat on me, lover." There was a slow glide of her hands traveling up her body, framing her curves in their ascent to her hair. Perfectly manicured fingertips sank into silken strands of gold to fluff her roots and throw her volumous hair over her shoulders. Her emerald eyes narrowed onto Botan, turning frigid with the viciousness of a woman scorned. So self righteous was her indignation, that one could almost believe that she truly was the wronged party. Then the smile that bloomed across her lips chased that darkness away as easily as it came. "But that's okay; I'll forgive you. But only if you promise not to do it again."
Kimiko's bedroom eyes returned to Kurama's form just as his rose whip lashed where she once stood. Kimiko burst into a cloud of flower petals so that the wind could carry her to safety. Her breathy laughter echoed in their skulls to mock their efforts. The sound solidified behind them, making Kurama lash out again. The same result pushed the faery farther back, which was only marginally better than what Kurama had initially intended.
"Careful," Kimiko cooed. "I might actually start thinking you want to break up with me."
The barb of Botan's kusarigama joined Kurama's whip as it shattered the ground on which Kimiko stood. The fae fluttered away, her wings beating with agitation. Botan didn't care, growing tired of being treated as if she didn't exist or matter.
"Her boobs! Her boobs!" That familiar voice cried out, distorted by the storm of youki and fae energy. "I'm in her boobs, dammit!"
"What is it with that woman and her boobs?" Botan thought once she put two and two together.
"As if you don't do the same thing," Yusuke countered.
"What's your point? You watch someone else cook for Keiko, see what you start saying." Botan may be a pot calling the kettle black, but the darn kettle was moving in on her man. Everything the fae did, Botan viewed with suspicioun and a level of envy. The two could be mirror images of each other, and the self consciousness would always play a role - not because they did the same thing, but because in Botan's eyes Kimiko did them better. If Botan did something that others would see as sexy, Kimiko would always be several steps higher. It was hard not to maintain a bias.
Yusuke got a taste of it as he worked himself up over Botan's words; cursing any and every girly man and Mr. Betty Crocker that would dare try and cook for his woman. It was then that he realized the why of his former assissant. "Point taken. Now get me out of her cleavage...and don't tell Keiko where I've been!" As if she would.
Still, she dropped her hand to grip Kurama's wrist to get his attention. A look was all it took for him to understand what it was she wanted to convey. She could see in his emerald and gold eyes the different ploys he could use to free Yusuke's soul fragment. Both doubted he'd be able to use the same trick twice. The two would have to try a different approach to free Yusuke.
Botan made a noise, similar in sound to a mew, to which Kurama responded with a low rumble in his chest. Slowly, the two parted, keeping their eyes trained onto the flying faery. They flanked Kimiko in silence, braced for attack as they silently communicated with each other through their peripharies. A small sound or gesture. A calculated shift or step. Both remained within acting distance of one another.
As expected, Kimiko ignored Botan in favor of following Kurama. Her lusty eyes had a dangerous gleam, as if to seduce while she threatened. Regardless, Botan took advantage of this by launching herself into a full bodied tackle against Kimiko's back. Once her arms had Kimiko's wings pinned, Botan wrapped her legs tight around her waist so she could swing herself around. Now face to face, and with Kimiko off balance Botan arched backwards with as much strength as she could muster.
Just as Kimiko was forced into a drop, Botan continued control of her momentum until she straddled Kimiko upon her landing. Her weight combined with the crash landing winded the blonde, but it did not incapacitate her for long. Once she was able to draw air, Kimiko kicked her knees up to assault Botan's back.
This was when Kurama acted; launching himself towards her just as Botan pitched forward. His arm wrapped around Botan's waist as the other brought the thorns of his whip hard against the front of Kimiko's dress to cleave through the material and slice open golden skin. Shimmering crimson splashed upwards as blood welled into the wound.
"You bitch!" Kikimo cried out in pain, rolling onto her hands and knees to guard the injury. Blood poured onto the ground in a gory cascade. A massive aquamarine soon fell free of it's leather and flesh prison, splashing into the pool of ichor and mud. "How dare you." The fae struggled to stand, stumbling in her heels as her wings failed to unfold from her back. Her attempts were in vain as the rip only made itself more prominent. Delicately, Kimiko reached behind to prod at the wound, only to shriek in agony. "How dare you!"
Botan was now the very center of Kimiko's attention. There were no more masks or feigned lust, just undiluted hatred stared down at the shikigami. Her rage compelled her forward, and the plants beneath her feet reacted accordingly. Each blade of grass hardened to steel before spearing towards the couple. Lengthening and slithering like snakes, they danced around all obstacles in their persuit of their mark: Botan.
Kurama tried to subvert his will over Kimiko's to take control of the plants, however her fury outmatched his control. He couldn't stop the blades from attacking them, so he and Botan leapt out of the way of the first stab. When Botan called her oar, he mounted behind her in time to avoid losing his leg.
"Where's Yusuke's soul fragment?" Botan questioned as she dodged.
Kurama didn't answer immediately. He was busy mowing the grass down so that it would no longer be a threat to Botan. "I don't see it," Kurama admitted after scanning the surrounding area. He'd seen it fall from Kimiko's dress, but after that he'd been preoccupied with a very angry faery trying to kill his girlfriend. His priorities were focused on Botan's safety.
Neither had time to search as Kimiko launched herself into a full offensive with a berserked warcry. She leaped towards the two with thorny vines wrapped around her arms. It was as if the fist of the Mortal Vine had come to her call, only with the added viciousness of a poisonous coating. The blade of thorns swiped at both, forcing Botan to swing backwards to hang from her oar by her knees. Kurama jumped off completley, lashing his whip out at Kimiko so he could wrap the tongue of it around her and pull her away.
Botan flew away from the two once an openning was made, leaving Kurama to deal with the fae while she searched for Yusuke's soul. It didn't take long to find it with it's shine glinting out to her like a beacon. It was nestled amongst a writhing mass of undulating roots and branches that had toxins dripping from numerous barbs. Too many to count as they gripped Yusuke's soul fragment as if to swallow it.
Botan still tried to give chase, prompting her oar to fly low to the ground. Arm outstretched, her hand reached deep into the mass for Yusuke's soul. It's smooth glassy surface warmed the tip of her finger, almost as if Yusuke's energy were reaching out to her as well. It soothed the searing pain of the thorns gouging into her arm, all the while releasing consistent waves of energy to keep those very branches from crushing Botan's arm to tear it off.
So close...so close. Three of her fingers tried to hook around the stone, gripping at the first knuckles of her fingers. So close. Almost...there...
"Botan, pull back!" Yusuke's voice pleaded as his soul fragment was swallowed deeper into the roots.
"Almost..." Shoulder deep, Botan bit back her cries as the thorns stabbed into her abused skin. the leather jacket offered little protection from the thorns and the acidic rain that descended from above, but it was enough to protect the back of her neck and spine.
A shrill cry prompted Botan to turn as she swung herself back up onto the shaft of her oar in time to see Kimiko slam hard into the ground. Kurama dove after her, whip wrapped tightly around his fist. His own blood flowed freely from open wounds where his weapon of choice pierced his skin. That went ignored as that fist was brought down where Kimiko once laid.
A shower of flower petals burst from her form upon contact, only to be carried away from him by the wind. Kurama dropped the length of the whip from his hand as he braced his feet against the ground in a crouch. The uninjured palm of his alternate hand slapped onto the ground- fingers splayed as his eyes fluttered shut. A scowl was set firmly across his lips as he searched for her.
She didn't get far when Kimiko coalesced behind Botan with a vicious cry. Catching the paddle of Botan's oar, the flightless fae hoisted herself up enough to swing her legs around and strike her from behind. Botan had to drop from her oar to avoid further harm, angling her body to dive. With a gesture of her hand Botan willed her oar to disperse, dropping Kimiko into a clumsy descent.
Botan watched for as long as she could before her body just reacted. Twisting in the air, Botan recentered herself until she was able to land on her feet. The shock of the landing shot up her legs to drop Botan into a crouch. Her palms slapping hard against the corosive soil.
Ruined wings unfurled to catch the plummeting fae, stretching the tear as the air currents rushed between the gap. It ripped further until it almost reached the base at Kimiko's shoulder blade. Another scream was ripped from her lips as she fought to remain in a steady glide just long enough to land.
The writhing roots and grass rose up to catch her in, weaving together to form a net that protected her from from further harm. With them came Yusuke's soul fragment. Wrapping her body around it, Kimiko sent a vicious glare over her shoulder. Her hatred was consuming. It curled her lip and distorted the beauty she usually carried in droves.
Vines coiled tight around her torso, twisting around her form to shield against further harm. Petals and leaves cupped her curves to harden as if encased in metal. Layer upon layer, the armor of leaves plated over her organs and joints to protect her. Thorns spiked from newly formed greaves and guards, each lethal with a sheen of poison catching the remaining rays of the setting sun. Rose vines twisted over the contours of Kimiko's breastplate, holding Yusuke's soul fragment point first over her sternum.
"No!" Botan cried, knowing what it was that Kimiko planned to do. She would not allow it! The stinger of her chain and sickle was released in a bid to stop her, but it was too late.
The vicious twist of Kimiko's lips only grew into a grin. A surge of energy rippled through the air when she gripped the glassy surface, plunging the stone deep into her chest. Yusuke's energy radiated outwards in an explosion of power, catching the blade to throw it backwards.
Another wave robbed Botan of her footing. The chain of her kusarigama slithered back into the base of the sickle to catch the blade and keep it from impaling Botan when she attempted to catch it. Her foot braced against the ground in an attempt to find some traction, digging her heels into the dirt and mud to no avail. Were it not for Kurama's intervention, Botan would have been blown back into the acidic mud. As it was, his presence solidified behind her to catch her in his arms. The treads in Kurama's shoes offered enough traction to keep him upright.
It was only a split second before the next surge of energy had him turning their bodies. His back took the brunt of the damage, but Kurama suffered without complaint. "Are you alright?" Kurama managed, searching for any life-threatening injuries that needed immediate attention.
"I'm fine," Botan insisted, relaxing into Kurama's hold lone enough to catch her breath and nurse her palms. Her fluxing reiki expelled the acid and mud, drawing the blisters inwards all the while healing herself. Her vanity would not allow the fae to mark her. "We can't let her absorb Yusuke soul fragment." It was all Kimiko needed to knit her wounds together- more than enough. Everything would have been for nothing.
Kurama did not have the patience to start over again. Pressing a quick kiss to Botan's temple to show he understood, Kurama plucked a blade of grass from the air as it blew passed them.
All it took was a thought: His wicked intent took hold of the malice that soaked into the stem. Roots extended to wrap around his wrist to form the pummel and guard of a sword. The grass lengthened into a serated saber. A whip would be useless. In the mood he was in, Kurama wanted up close and personal when he killed the fae.
Charging forward, Kurama dispursed the next current of raw energy with an upward swipe of his sword. He was on Kimiko within moments, bringing the pummel of the blade down hard against her hand to chase it away from Yusuke's half sumberged soul fragment.
Before he could carve the fragment from her chest, Kimiko brought her leg up to stomp her heel against Kurama's chest to kick him away. "How rude," she hissed at him, bringing her heel down to seize control of the root systems deep underground. With Yusuke's energy merging with her own, they responded almost instantly- gourging themselves on his youki.
Roots and grass shot up to wrap her in a cucoon and pull her deep under ground. Massive roots shot up from the ground, as large around as Kurama or larger. They reached high to the heavens. Weaving around each other as they sought to saw Kurama in half with the blade-like thorns that shot from the girth of the malicious trees to form spiked branches. Each point could easily skewer him through. Kurama had no choice but to react, racing through the massive trunks and avoiding each point as they stabbed out at him.
Botan watched in horror as Kurama's image was swallowed by the massive gnarled tree. "Kurama!" She cried out over the rush of foliage, snapping thorns and branches. She could feel his energy fluctuate upwards in different spurts, giving her a trail to follow upwards. Botan called him as she did so, hoping that he would hear her and give some sign that he was okay.
She couldn't just sit by and wait. Her sickle returned to her hand to lengthen and swallow the stinger as it became her Reaping Scythe. She held the snath by the grip so she could mount it as she would her oar. The frayed hem of her summer dress bunched between her thighs as she clamped tight with her knees. Without the paddle to brace her heels against, Botan had to rely on the strength of her legs to hold her aloft during her ascent.
A spirit bullet exploded through the trunk of the gnarled tree to cut her off, raining debris down over Botan. She had no choice but to stop, twisting her scythe so that the side of the blade would shield face. "Kurama!?" She called again, trying to feel him through the din. Another blast of Yusuke's energy answered her, so close that it threw Botan from her scythe. Wood embedded itself deep into her arm and side to rip a scream from her lips.
She had no choice but to sacrifice her control of her scythe so she could draw her reiki inwards. With her good arm, Botan reached out to catch one of the branches as she drew near it. Breathing passed the pain, she swung her body around until she was able to find her balance over the thick length of wood. She could feel the spikes of Kurama's youki somewhere deep within the giant tree. It comforted her, even as the sharp pain seared into her skin.
The splinters were pushed from her arm and side to fall forgotten from Botan's perch, leaving gaping wounds to stain into the tattered remains of Botan's summer dress. Holding her hand over the largest of them, Botan healed herself while continuing her bid to pinpoint her beloved's exact location. For all she knew, that devil woman was sinking her claws into him again to... Botan didn't know which mental image was worse: the one of Kimiko hurting him, or the one that followed of her taking advantage of his weakened state.
She refused to allow either of those scenarios to happen. Calling her scythe back into her hand, Botan mustered all her strength to carve into the trunk of the tree. The flow of energy followed after the scythe as it tore through the bark as easily as a searing knife through butter. The reaping ripped a continuous flow from Kimiko's grasp to feed into the blade itself.
It seemed that her Reaper's Scythe had grown stronger in the physical world. An incredulous smirk bloomed across Botan's lips as she ran her palm over the flat of her blade. Yusuke's energy hummed just beneath the surface, rippling under her palm to heat the metal. "...Yusuke?" His voice did not respond, but Botan could still feel his consciousness calling out to her. That was all she needed to make up her mind. She didn't know why she was able to reap energy in the physical realm now, but if it meant she could save her loved ones then Botan would use it.
Kimiko's soul would be hers.
A tremor of energy rippled through the foliage that lined the interior of Kimiko's tree. At first, Kurama thought it was another wave of the fae's carnivorous plants sent to keep him at bay. Everytime he drew near, they would attack to buy her more time to escape and continue healing. It was a common, if not juvenile tactic that served as a constant source of annoyance.
Crass language threaten to bark passed his lips as he prepared another burst of energy to chase the plants away, only to watch in awe as plants withered and died within moments. Wood became brittle to the touch as the life was simply drained away. "Botan...?" Another, stronger tremor ripped more of the energy from the trunk, killing more of the foliage. "That's my girl." Pride swelled within Kurama's heart as he continued his climb.
With each leap, more of the tree's interior fell away with snaps and groans. The force of Botan's strikes outside grew stronger with her determination. A fissure raced up along the tree's side after one particularly vicious one, carving free a massive branch. It took part of the tree as it fell, allowing the light of the rising moon to filter in and illuminate the interior. A quick glance outside revealed a cluster of onlookers at the park's edge, marveling at the massive dying tree that suddenly appeared within their city.
"Kurama!" Scythe in hand, Botan leaped into the tree's interior. His jacket had been lost, leaving her in just her stained summer dress. A long tear exposed a smear of blood across her thigh, but there was no wound to speak of.
Kurama would not be satisfied until he was sure. "Botan," he called out to her, rushing to her side so he could check her for injury. "Are you alright...Botan...?"
Amethyst eyes glowed up at him. Pupils narrowed into slits. Botan breathed hard as she wavered on her feet, unsteady in her heels. "Kurama," she breathed, a small smile tugging at her lips. Her relief had her sagging into his embrace, only to pull back when realization struck.
Chloroplast dripped down Kurama's exposed torso, mixing with the blood of his still bleeding wounds. His shirt had been melted away by first wave of plants. Welts from their acidic saliva drew deep welts into his arms and shoulders, following the tracks left by the subsiding acid rain outside.
Botan made the attempt to heal him, but Kurama wouldn't let her. "You need to conserve your energy" he told her, catching her hands in his.
"But-" Botan tried, worry thick in her voice.
"I'll be fine," Kurama assured her, more concerned with how much energy Botan had used. She'd only barely eaten, and yet she had burned through so much of it. In time she would need to feed. As much pleasure as that thought gave him, they could not afford to have her go into a frenzy in the middle of a fight. "Let's wrap this up quick."
"Right," Botan agreed. The sooner they were rid of Kimiko, the happier she would be. It was a matter of principle. Mounting her scythe, Botan pulled Kurama up behind her so they could continue their ascent at a faster pace.
Kurama could feel the agitation chording through Botan's body, feeling a rush of guilt for his past behavior. It was his fault that Botan hated Kimiko in such a way. What person wanted to watch their infatuation cozy up to another? "She'll be dead soon," Kurama tried to assure her. He placed a kiss on her shoulder, only to marvel at the fact that his words did calm Botan enough to ease her death grip over her scythe. That worried him even more... Almost as much as it turned him on. They needed to get this over and done with soon.
Botan coaxed her scythe to climb ever faster until they burst through the foliage to find Kimiko gripping the stone in her chest. As if to hold it in place, she syphoned Yusuke's energy so she could repair her ruined wing. Most of her other wounds had been healed already, but the exhaustion had painted her face with a sickly palor. Youki danced over her skin to lascerate her hands and chest.
"Yusuke..." He was fighting her off. Kurama took advantage of this, charging forward with sword in hand. Botan followed close behind. That woman would not escape them again.
Their malicious intent was palpable, stilling Kimiko's healing and forcing her to expell her stolen energy. With a roar of frustration the fae gave life to the foliage that still remained around her. The buds nestled within the leaves grew as they bloomed into gaping maws. They slithered forward to spit a stream of sweet smelling acid.
Kurama jumped out of the way just as Botan swung her scythe, deflecting the acid with a burst of Yusuke's hybrid energy and reaping the life from the plants. They withered instantly. Yusuke's energy raced after Botan's blade, eager to be absorbed into the safe haven her Death Scythe offered. The shimmer of Yusuke's ghost misted around Botan's shoulders as she drew more of his soul from the fragment.
Once she was out of the way, Kurama came down with his blade to carve the fragment loose. What would have been a fatal blow was only somewhat diverted when she jumped back. Eyes wide, she watched with mounting dread as her life's blood flowed freely from the gaping wound the soul fragment created as it was loosened from her chest.
Desperate to survive, Kimiko called a blade to her hand to parry. Rolling with her momentum, she struck out with the pummel of another to force Kurama back. Before the hit could land against his temple, the grip of Botan's scythe hooked around the fae's wrist. A firm yank protected Kurama from harm while leaving Kimiko's back open to Kurama's knee to her spine.
Botan expertly swung the scythe around her waist to correct it, hooking the blade around Kimiko to carve into her with the chine*. Kimiko saved herself from being sawed in half by bringing up one of her swords to stop it. She did not account for Botan's strength, and soon found herself thrown hard into Kurama's chest. Powerful arms snaked around the fae's torso just as a blade was pressed to her throat, holding Kimiko immobile. All that was left to do was rip the dimming soul fragment from Kimiko's chest. Botan's fingers curled around the protruding length of it, gripping it tight so she could pull it free.
A sphere of reiki surrounded Kimiko before the two could cause the fae further harm. The force of it repelled the couple for several feet and destroyed the blade that threatened to slit Kimiko's throat.
"Botan!" Kurama cried, digging his heels into the ground to slow his momentum. He watched as her scythe dispersed once separated from its shikigami. Yusuke's stored energy was released from the blade, only to return to the shard that had been yanked free.
Botan had been thrown several feet farther. The corrosive mud that remained burned into her skin as she rolled to a stop, eating away at the worn cotton and freshly healed flesh of her legs and arms. It took all Botan had not to cry out as newly formed blisters and welts were cut open. "I'm alright," Botan called back once she caught her breath.
Stumbling forward, Kurama tried to return to her side. He could smell her injuries on the wind. The perfume of her blood coated his tongue. The orb of energy spiralled upwards to rip open the clouds and draw in the chi of the nature around them. A stream of youki condenced from the air around them to wrap arround the funnel. It then slithered outwards as if it had a mind of its own.
The stinger of Botan's chain and scycle struck the ground before the energy could reach its destination: Yusuke's soul fragment. A sharp tug moved it out of the way just enough for Botan to catapolt herself forward, hand outstretched to catch the crystal. She landed hard on the ground, cradling the crystal to her heart as she curled her body around it.
"Botan!" Kurama cried out, watching in horror as the energy blanketed Botan's prone body in a wave of malice. He tried to reach her- tried to will the grass beneath Botan's body to surge upwards and knit a shield around her. The malice was too intense. Nothing would grow regardless of Kurama's will and the energy he gave.
Once the wave had passed, Botan scrambled to her feet and ran. The heels of her sandals sank into the mud to make her stumble, but had a clear shot.
Kurama didn't need much more to know what she had planned, running parallel with her. When she threw Yusuke's soul fragment, he was ready to catch it. Despite her strength, Kurama had to pivot on his heel to run towards the gem. The currents of reiki and youki caught the crystal mid-flight. Kurama caught it regardless.
"Look out!"
Kurama only had a moment to react to Botan's scream, skidding to a stop and jumping back in time to avoid being shot by a spirit bullet. The reiki dispersed to reveal a fully healed Kimiko, her wings fluttering before she took flight. Koudo manifested from the reiki, the remaining fragment hanging from a silk chord around his neck. His finger remained pointed in Kurama's direction with another bullet of energy charging.
A curse escaped Kurama's lips, fighting with his need to protect Botan and the mission to put his best friend back together. Love and responsibility clashed within his mind. The mission should come first, but for once his priorities had shifted to value his partner above all things. How the "mighty" have fallen.
Shifting in his footing, Kurama surveyed his options while maintaining an awareness around Botan. He didn't know how much longer she could last like this. Her stamina was waning fast. If he didn't let her feed off him soon, who knew what could happen? So far, both fae had their attention on him and the crystal he held in his hand. It was the malice that hovered in his periphary that set him on edge. It was too close to his Botan, but every move he made had Koudo adjusting his aim.
A streak of black darted across the field, cutting a path across Koudo as it made its way to Botan's side just as exhaustion dropped her to her knees. Hiei's form came into focus just long enough to hook his arms under her legs and around her back. He waited long enough to tuck Botan's head under his chin in a rare show of affection before the pair was nothing more than another blur.
Relief flooded Kurama's system to know that the shadow couldn't keep up with Hiei's speed. It tried, but there was distance enough between the malicious entity and Hiei's footsteps that Kurama was able to summon a latticework of green and thorns that tethered to the husk of dying tree.
Is she okay? Kurama called telepathically, praying that Hiei was listening for his voice.
Hiei grunted, holding Botan tight to his chest and counting the beats of her erratic heart. She'd used so much energy with her newfound skills, and was still very much a rookie fighter. The fact that Botan lasted this long was a miracle. Like every other time, she went above and beyond the call of duty. Hiei had a hard time fighting back the swell of pride he felt for his Grim Reaper.
"Hiei," Botan breathed, taking deep breaths of the younger demon's scent of brimstone and pine. Something sweet underlined the aroma, making it pleasant to her hoarse lungs.
"Shhh," Hiei cooed. "Save your breath. You need to conserve your energy."
"That's the nicest way you've ever told me to shut up," Botan smiled. Her body went lax against Hiei's warmth as the last of her adrenaline bled away from her limbs.
Hiei couldn't fight the chuckle that bubbled up from his chest. "Kurama, I'm going to let Botan take some of my enegy to hold her over."
"Do it." Kurama didn't even think against it, trusting Hiei to not take advantage of Botan's current state. The yoko knew that Hiei loved Botan as much as the others did. She was family, regardless of the gruff remarks he made when in earshot.
With a nod, Hiei pulled the sleeve to reveal his wrist. "Drink," came his command upon holding the limb to Botan's mouth.
Eyes wide, Botan shook her head in the negative. The last thing she wanted was to hurt Hiei, who was her friend and had barely enough energy to keep himself going. "What if I don't stop? I could-"
"I am more than capable of stopping you," he assured her, trying to feel annoyed for Botan's concern. He was well aware of his limitations. It was why he was playing nurse, as compared to shoving his katana through Kimiko's frigid heart. "Now drink."
Botan was hesitant at first, but she could not deny that she'd burned through all her energy. This was the longest fight she'd been in, and had foolishly expended all her energy from the start. It seemed there was still much to learn beyond knowing all the different ways to kill a man- or annoying fae as the case may be. She had no choice; her staying in the fight would have her as more of a hinderance than anything. The fact that both demons cared more about her feeding than the task at hand was what ultimately made her decision. Kurama couldn't afford to be distracted by her wellbeing.
The underlying fear did little to stop her when Botan took Hiei's hand in hers. The steady pulse of Hiei's blood called to her, lulling the last of her nerves. Botan fought with the instinct to rip into his wrist and ravage the limb until his life's blood flowed free. Instead, she angled Hiei's wrist so that her canines would pierce the vein as gently as she could. Blood pooled into her mouth in a rush. Spicy and warm; it reminded Botan of the curry Shizuru once made. It was so good...
"I got her," Hiei told Kurama, watching the fox search for an opening between the two fae.
"I owe you one." Kurama called two blades to his hand, still weary of long distance fighting given the gales that answered to the faes' call.
"Don't mention it." Seriously, don't. It was bad enough that Botan had wormed her way into his good graces to a point where she fell under the "to be protected at all costs" category. Now he had to worry about Mokuro teasing him relentlessly about adopting such a bubbly personality as his family. Pretty soon all his credibily would be lost. Not even the fact that Botan was a Grim Reaper helped.
Kurama cast Botan one last glance, meeting her eyes and marveling at the sight of her feeding. There was no underlying sexuality within her bite. Hiei's touch was platonic, and wrought with the affection that he could no longer hide. This much made him happy, and yet he still felt as if it should only be his blood that sustained her. It should be him that cradled Botan's head to his chest while she fed.
Time to end this. Surging forward, Kurama blitzed the two fae just as Koudo released the bullet he'd been holding. The fool. Didn't even realize that the energy he was holding was his own. Kurama dodged around the bullet and used the debris as cover to change his trajectory. Though he hated the other male, Kimiko was his true target. She'd been nothing more than a thorn in his side from the moment they met.
Kurama lept out of the cloud of dirt and stone, swords crossed to carve the fae in two. She pulled back and brought her own saber to stop him. It caught the apex of the attack, her free hand braced against the dull edge of the blade. At twist of his wrist had Kurama hooking the serated edge onto the blade so he could knock it away. The other blade stabbed forward to slide against the breast plate to pierce the newly healed flesh over her sternum.
Koudo caught the blade with his bare hand, saving his sister before the blade had the chance to break through the bone. His own blood spilled free from where his palm was carved open. The fae didn't even flinch, wedging his body between the two of them to punch Kurama back.
Before it could connect, Kurama released the captured blade so he could backhand Koudo's fist away from him. Holding it captive under his arm, Kurama used the leaverage to headbutt the man's brow and carve a long line across his chest with the sword he still held. He then braced his feet against Koudo's torso to kick off in a backwards arch back towards the ground. Upon his landing, Kurama launched himself forward to keep the fae from recovering.
It was now that Kurama risked calling his favored rose whip, lashing it out to catch Kouder around his shoulders and yank him closer. The thorns hooked into his sunkissed flesh to rip out a scream. Kurama would be lying if he didn't enjoy the sound. Sadistic glee bid that Kurama pull his whip hard, drawing the faery closer.
Check mate. A vicious grin split Kurama's face as he punched his fist through Koudo's ribcage. Flesh and bone ripped and shattered around Kurama's fist. Riverlettes of blood cascaded down the length of Kurama's arm and side, soothing the welts that remained from Kimiko's first few waves of attack.
The smile didn't last long, as searing pain stabbed through his abdomen. Looking down, Kurama was shocked to see a blade there. Behind Koudo, Kimiko was grinning her victory. She had plunged her sword through her own brother to reach Kurama. The thought of it repulsed Kurama to his very core.
Koudo's arms wrapped around Kurama's shoulders, drawing him closer to sink the blade deeper into Kurama's body. His wings fluttered as the only outward sign of the faery's pain, holding the three of them aloft despite the arm through his chest, and the sword sticking out through his naval.
"Kurama!" Botan released Hiei's wrist so she could run to Kurama's aid, feeling well enough to rejoin the fray and help him.
Hiei wouldn't let her. His arms looped around her shoulders to keep her prisoner, knowing that regardless of her regained strength she was no match for two fae- especially now that Kimiko had been fully healed. "You've done more than enough," Hiei tried to reason with her. "This is his fight now. Kurama will be fine."
Kurama refused to let them win. He took advantage of his current predicament, reaching through Koudo's back to catch Kimiko by her neck. Gripping it tight, until he could feel her throat constrict beneath his palm. If he couldn't kill them both, then he would crush Kimiko's windpite and be done with it.
"Now, now," a deep barritone rumbled like thunder. "There's no need to get so violent." The mist of youki reached around to Hiei and Botan's concerned forms at a lazy pace, undulating over the dying earth to wrap around them.
"Hiei!" Botan cried, shoving him away with a burst of her newly aquired energy to shield him and his precious cargo. A massive hand emerged from the mass of darkness to clamp around the back of Botan's neck as she did so. Shock numbed her body for the briefest of moments before fight or flight took control. Botan hissed and kicked against the mass behind her, growing increasingly desperate when an arm barred across her neck. She reached up to sink her claws deep into it, sinking them down to her nailbeds as she tried to rip it away. She had almost succeeded until the solid wall of a man's body flushed against her back, syphoning all her body heat to make her skin crawl with revoltion.
Hiei landed a short distance cursing Botan's altruism as vehemethly as he cursed himself for allowing the energy to get too close. He watched in horror as Botan was held captive by the disembodied limbs and a solid wall of youki. So powerful and thick, it was visible to the naked eye even before it condenced into the form of a giant of a man. It decayed the nature beneath his feet and filled the air with the stagnance of decay. "Botan!"
"Botan!" Kurama released his prey without a moment's hesitation, rushing to Botan's aid. "Let her go," Kurama commanded.
Simultaneously, Hiei rolled onto his feet. Despite his weakness, he drew his katana and made to help Botan- who had allowed herself to be captured for his sake.
"None of that now," the man admonished as if speaking to a petulant child. The blood that dripped from his wounds came alive. Beading around Botan's wrists, they formed shackles that burned into her flesh. "Behave."
Before Botan even had the chance to scream, a powerful magnetism popped her arms back to almost dislocate her shoulders. More of the blood drew seals up her arms as it made its way up to her neck, collaring her before forming a tether to her wrists. More bondage stilled her legs from kicking out by chaining her wrists to her ankles. Botan's spine arched as her arms were stretched down to their fullest extent and farther.
The closer the two young men drew, the tighter her bonds became until her spine began to pop. Kurama was the first to stop, eyes wide bear witness to Botan's attempt to conceil her pain and indignation. Hiei skidded to a halt a moment after, inching backwards as if that would help.
"Much better," the man hummed, holding Botan close so he could rest his cheek over the crown of her head. So close, he did not fear her breaking his hold. He just continued to stroke her cheek with the knuckle of his index finger. "If you kids want to continue to play together, you must learn to take not to be so rough." His calloused finger traced down Botan's cheek to twist into the tendril of hair that fell before her ear. Down his hand went, following the length of Botan's hair to ghost over the curves of her arm.
She tried to squirm away from the touch. Botan's revultion intensifying when the man's finger coiled her curls around his finger. The stench of a rotting soul filled her lungs- as cloying in its sweetness as the lingering odor of rot the man wore like a cologne. Death's touch had branded itself into his flesh, staining his fingers with the intricate webwork of seals and patterns in a deep shade of purple. Like henna, it spanned over the flesh of his hands like a pair of gloves. The marks of a high ranking shikigami.
Botan had to turn away from the crass display. Those marks should never be exposed in this world, or any other. They were for the eyes of the Gods and the dead only, and to be shielded by one's celestial robes at all other times. To show them was the equivalent of being naked in a puritan society. Only the truly vain and self assured would go parading around like this. Craning her neck, Botan tried to get a good look at the man's face.
Just as she feared; he was a shikigami.
In this body, she didn't know who he was. A crown of horns curved from his brow, leading up to the spiral of ram horns. How they were present in physical form, Botan didn't know. Only the Reikai born, or those that have lived in Reikai for close to a thousand years had them. Like the markings on his hands, those should have been hidden as well. Only the ogres could walk around with their horns exposed. Shikigami where part of an entirely different echelon. They did not go around showing off their horns. It was encouraged that they maintained human form at all times so that they remained pleasing to the eyes of the divine and the souls they ferried.
The blatant disdain for the laws and ettiquettes of the Spirit World rang with recognition within her mind. Botan knew this man. Not the body he wore, but the being that wore it like a suit. The body looked to have once belonged to a demon- some form of carrion judging by the smell. His long hair fell from a widow's peek to frame sharp features and pale, almost paper white skin. Towering over her, Botan couldn't help but compare the man to a Yakuza given his disheveled suit and tie. Judging by the soul-stink, whoever the body used to belong two was no better than the being that took up residence inside of it.
Crimson orbs looked down at her, followed by a charming smile that made Botan's skin crawl. "Good girl, Bo-chan. It would be best that you and your friends behave- or I'll be forced to take disciplinary action. Do you want to continue playing with your friends, Bo-chan?"
Botan was forced to nod her head.
"Good girl, Bo-chan. Now, tell your friends that you don't want to play soldier. You're a lady, and if they want to play with you they can't be so rough. If they continue to be so, you might get hurt." A cascade of ebony waves brushed against Botan's shoulder as the man lowered his head to nuzzle her cheek. A day's growth of stubble scratched at her skin before full lips pressed against her temple in a kiss. The hum of Koenma's soul soothed her hackles enough for her to count three fragments hanging from his neck.
She didn't need to say a word. Hiei and Kurama both threw their weapons onto the ground. "Don't hurt her," Kurama pleaded, desperate to have Botan safe in his arms. "Just let her go."
"I would never hurt my little Bo-chan," he assured him. Despite his words, the man's hand fell from Botan's curls to settle over her hip. He drew her close to his body, his fingers kneading into the worn cotton of her ruinned dress. "Now, you on the otherhand. Look at the mess you've made. Are you going to take responsibility for this little fiasco?"
The hem of Botan's dress hitched higher to reveal more of her body. The slit of it parted to frame her thigh, allowing the man's hand to drop and draw invisible lines over her flesh. The tip of his crimson claws found the groove of one of her glamoured scars and followed it inwards.
"Yes! Just leave her alone!" He would do anything- anything asked of him. He loved Botan too much to let her suffer anymore than she already has because of him. She was his heart; he couldn't live without it.
"Kurama!?" Hiei gasped. "Don't do this!"
"She's my intended: I can't let her get hurt. Once she's free, get her as far from this place as you can. You can get my soul back once you've recovered." Kurama would leave no room for discussion. He rested his hand on Hiei's shoulder, praying that Hiei would understand that he had to do this. Kurama had lived so long without the love he felt in his heart, he could not allow it to be taken away from him. It was an easy choice. "You would do the same for Mokuro, or Yukina."
"And you would find a way out." Hiei gripped Kurama's hand, trying to implore his friend to think harder for some other option. Leaving Botan to that man was not an option, but there had to be something. Anything other than the surrender of Kurama's soul. Regardless, he accepted Yusuke's soul fragment as it was slipped into his grip. It was then dropped into his pocket to join the one Hiei had stolen from Koudo's neck.
"Not this time." Kurama's emotions clouded his judgment. He knew this, but there was no regret in his heart. Kneeling, Kurama surrendered completely.
"That's better," the man decided after a moment of observation. Whisps of light danced around the man's free hand to form the soul stealing orb that robbed the tantei of their spirits. Now, it was marked for fox.
Botan was done playing damsel in distress. She may not be able to move, but she would be damned if that stopped her from protecting her loved ones. Pitching to the side, Botan twisted enough to catch the silk chord holding Koenma's soul fragments in her mouth. Her fangs hooked against around it, snapping it so that she could pull it off as she fell. Her teeth clenched tight to keep hold of Koenma's soul. The shackles of energy tightened around her to cut into her skin. Blood flowed free when her jugular was knicked, but not a sound was made. Not even when black malice raced from Botan's cursed mark when she came into contact with the orb.
Yuri's energy came alive in a matter of moments. It danced over her body, syphoning the energy from Koenma's soul fragments until each stone was little more than clear glass. It wove around the seals of her bondage, shattering them and searing the wounds shut. The massive form of Yuri's truest form took shape from the energy, repelling the spell and pushing the man away. The image dispersed just as quickly as if formed with a shriek, chasing after the man to form a portal of oily darkness.
Neither Kurama or Hiei would waste this opportunity. Once Botan was cleared of the energy, the two of them were by her side as if to shield her from further danger. Kurama's arms wrapped tight around Botan's shoulders and he held her close, refusing to let go even when she insisted she was alright. They watched as the man's form vanished into the black hole, followed by Yuri's shade.
"Damn, is she mad now," Koudo grunted. "Let's go before Yuri makes a mess of everything." Grabbing his sister's hand, the male followed into the portal before it had the chance to close.
"How dare you!?"
The shriek was fallowed by a wave of malice that pinned the two faeries to the wall of their opulant manor clear on the other side of Tokyo. It's focal point: Yuri. Her rage was absolute, filling air with an electric stagnance.
"You swore to me that no harm would come to Botan!"
Koudo cringed at the pitch of her voice. Yuri was really mad now. Good.
*1 – ¥206,630 = $2000
*8 – I practically gave you this cameo. You better guess it!
*7 – Of course Kurama's gonna have scars. Healing doesn't remove all traces, especially in the most extreme cases since Kurama seems to enjoy getting critically injured…a ploy I think so that his true strength doesn't upstage Yusuke as he grows. Not that I mind since I love seeing the others get a chance to kick ass. Plus….I'm kind of a sadist when Kurama's involved. When he cries out in pain I get all tingly.
* - Quick reminder: Mokuro eats human flesh, so she's legitimately considering dining on little Ichigo. Run, kitty, RUN!
*9 – Poor Kurama! He gets confused for a girl a lot. In the anime, the final episode had some of Kuwabara's classmates mistaking him for Kuwabara's girlfriend. In the manga, (Vol. 19, chapter 170) he's called a girl twice which has him frothing at the mouth with Kuwabara trying to calm him down. Poor guy. He snaps a couple times and goes all scary. Hell, even in the philipino dub, he's turned into a she for half the anime until they realize their mistake. Fortunately, he's going through the last of his growth spurts so he's becoming a walking Adonis. No more confusing him for a girl! Yay.
*10 - The chine of a scythe is the sharp edge of the blade. The toe is the very tip of it.
Author's Note: I'm not fully satisfied with how I ended this chapter. The fight had been torturing me for a very long time that I had decided to start the following chapter with the hope that aleviate my major writer's block.