Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I do not claim any rights to any of the characters or

concepts created or owned by Viz Video or Rumiko Takahashi. This is just the work of one fan to the others. The only characters or concepts that I claim are the ones I created or introduced. That said, I bring you:

The Annals of the Heroine Akane, and the Dreaded Demon King. A Tale of the Mirrorverse.

Chapter 21: When the dance is life and death, find a good partner.

Nabiki spared another worried look back at her sister as she led the way. She was worried about Kasumi, and feared she would never see her oldest sister alive again, but she could and would focus on what needed to be done. Akane though… Under the mantle of the Heroine, under all that martial skill and prowess was still the lost little girl who would cry on her older sister's shoulder when she scraped her knee. And that fragile core had never been more evident than it was right now. Akane clung to Ranko's hand like it was a lifeline in a raging river, and Nabiki imagined that was pretty much what it was at this point. The pair had grown closer and closer, day by day and it had been obvious that Ranko had become more and more of a source of strength for her younger sister.

Nabiki had only ever seen her sister like this once before, and that was when they had lost their mother. It had broken the little girl, but it had been shortly after that when the mantle of the Heroes power had settled over her. She wouldn't fully acquire it for years to come, not until the previous Hero met his end at the hands of the Demon King, but the aura of power and destiny had been there, and had been nurtured and allowed to grow.

Still, as she was now, she couldn't fight. She would need time, and it had fallen to her to buy that time. Without the full might of the Goddesses blessing, Akane was not nearly as untouchable in combat. Amusingly enough, if the Demon King HAD been here, then they would have been in better shape

Of course, then the strange obsessive madness that settled over her sister would have been present, as well. Kasumi was sure it was just an aspect of her sister's zeal and devotion, but Nabiki didn't have the blinders of faith that Kasumi had shackled herself with. To her, it seemed dangerous and uncontrollable, a far cry from the thoughtful, dedicated and kind woman that Akane was, and closer to the violent, irresponsible child that Akane had been for a while after they lost their mother.

Nabiki had to be honest, if the choice was the tender, fragile young woman that clung to Ranko, or the wild untouchable force of nature that waded through seas of blood and gore, she would choose the real Akane any day.

Even if that force and might would get them out of this mess alive.

Ranko and Nabiki exchanged a look, and Ranko bit her lip and nodded as she tightened her grip on Akane's hand. Ranko pulled a little more on Akane's hand as the pair pulled slightly ahead of Nabiki.

Nabiki reached up and petted the furry shadow that had attached herself to the rogue. She found a level of comfort in the silky feel of the fur against her fingers. Even if it brought memories to mind that she had yet to figure out how to deal with.

Still, she had a job to do, and she would do it to the best of her ability. She would entrust her baby sister to Ranko, and make sure that the pair had the time that Akane needed to pull herself out of the daze she had been dropped into.

First, Nabiki had to try to limit the approaches. Of there's stairways, the one on the left was in better shape. That meant she had to make it as unappealing as she could in as short a time as possible. While, of course, she made that decision as expensive as she could. She had something that could work, but she had honestly hoped to save it. Alchemical concoctions were hard to come by, and one that exploded was doubly hard to obtain.

One that exploded into flames that burned even under water? Those were even harder to get a hold of for obvious reasons. Storing and using such a thing was not easy, either. A special case filled with oil was needed, and the guts to employ the crazy thing.

Luckily, Nabiki had all of that.

As she listened to the sounds of combat that filtered up from below, she hurried to make her preparations before she got to the more intact of the two stairwells. A mixture of oil and caltrops, to slow their advance… And their retreat. Then came the dangerous part, as she hung the glass flask up, and attached the trip lines that would set the volatile concoction off. Even as she heard the rush of small footsteps approaching, she tried to remain as calm as possible. If she messed up, it might not go off.. Or it could go off as soon as she let it go.

She cast one last look at the hallway, then moved off. She had work to do, and the sooner she finished, the sooner she could see about going back for Kasumi. What was important right now was making sure that Akane survived this, the rest of them didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Currently, Akane was the only counter to the Demon King

So, she would trust Ranko to keep her safe while she bought what time she could. It was the least she could do, after all. She looked at the cat that clung to her shoulder as she hurried to the other side of the keep. "I'm glad you're here, furball… Even if you would have been much safer with your mistress. I am going to need you to get down, and hide someplace safe, honey. Ranko would never forgive me if anything happened to you." Nabiki said, then smiled at the look she got in return from the cat. "Yes, I know you're a big, vicious predator… But listen to the human this time."

Xian Pu glared at Nabiki. How dare that insolent human presume to order her about! See if she helped her, then! She would just sit and watch the stupid human die, then. It seemed to be what she wanted, after all. She couldn't figure out why the stupid, infuriating human drove her so mad! Yes, she would just sit up above the fight and watch. And she would not sulk. Not one bit.

Nabiki chuckled at the look on the little terrors face and gave her a good cuddle and pet before she placed her carefully into a gap in the upper section of the wall. She should be safe there, and would be able to get herself down… After it was over. Nabiki had no delusions about what was to come, or the fate of Kasumi and herself. All that mattered was making sure that Akane at least had a chance.

As Nabiki set about her preparations, Xian Pu wondered what the sneaky little human had done, and why she had not staked out the other stairwell. It had been clearly the better approach, and would be the best place to stand her ground. She had to think that Nabiki had something underhanded planned, and she was tempted to go poke her nose into it, especially as she heard the first sounds of their attackers hitting the stairwell, and the squeals of outrage and pain as they started to find her traps. A moment later, she would find herself glad that she had not decided to sate her curiosity when the sound of breaking glass came moments before a loud, roaring sound as a flame swept the stairwell. She could smell the burning flesh, and the odd smell of stone heated far past where it should ever be. Xian Pu stared at the sneaky little human and shivered with an odd mix of dread and pride.

Nabiki glanced up at Xian Pu, and the predatory look of glee on the human's face sent another shiver down the feline-form demon's spine.

"Sorry about the noise, sweetling. That was my little welcome gift to them. A flask of alchemist's fire set to swing down and hit one of the cross beams. The resulting hellstorm should have swept the stairs clean, and kept them off of it for a while. Now, they are certain to come here, to where I am. So, you be a good little terror and stay up there while I take care of our guests. We have to keep your mistress and her paramour safe as long as we can, after all." Nabiki said as she laid out her knives and got them ready for the fight that was to come.

Xian Pu watched and waited, even as she could hear the frightened sounds of the goblins that were being herded towards the stairwell where they waited. She could hear the heavier steps of the orcs that followed behind them, and the meaty sounds of the orcs hitting and kicking the smaller, but more numerous, goblins. The little pests seemed far less eager now that they had experienced Nabiki's idea of hospitality.

Xian Pu found that she had to agree with them on that account. Perhaps the human had never taken her seriously? Or was this a surprise that Nabiki had kept waiting for the right moment to use on her, Xian Pu wondered and shivered a little as she could still hear the flames, and smell the chaos and carnage that it had caused.

Even as she was horrified, some part of her was thrilled by this glimpse of the truly ruthless side of this infuriating human.

Nabiki smiled a grim smile as she hurried to prepare the best she could. She had used the last of her caltrops and oil setting the trap in the other stairwell. She had been able to arrange a deadfall or two, but that was about it. She would have to fight them in close quarters, and it would've a nearly endless stream. On top of that, even if it did collapse, the other stairwell would become open in time. She could buy some time, just like her sister had, but in the end it would all fall on her younger sister's shoulders.

But it was what she could do for her as one last gift.

With that thought, a weight was lifted off of Nabiki. She was going to die. She would be with her older sister and her other lost members of her family soon. It brought a sense of peace to her, as she finished her preparations just as the first of the oncoming green tide came around the corner.

Nabiki faded back into the scant cover of the loose and fallen stones, and gripped two of her last few throwing knives. They would not be as useful as the heavier fighting knives she carried in the fight to come, so there was no reason to hold them back anymore.

As she heard the first couple start to make their ascent up the broken and crumbled stairs, she waited until she heard the first of her deadfalls go off, and the brief scream of terror as the stones careened down into the throng below. She hoped to have killed or injured at least a few, and waited for the orcs to harass the cannon fodder into making another attempt. The second deadfall triggered, and they seemed to be a little more hesitant this time. There was considerably more shouting and abuse levied on them, and she waited for the right time to pop briefly out of cover and see what waited for her at the bottom of the stairs. There were a few bloody and battered goblins, and at least one that would not be making the climb again. Currently, one of the orcish priests had started to berate the goblins, as he flailed at them with a whip that served as a holy symbol. With a sense of almost giddy glee, Nabiki took the chance and launched two poisoned daggers into the flailing and gesticulating orc. One was deflected by whatever armor he had under his ceremonial robes, the other sunk into the exposed section of his neck that was visible.

Nabiki ducked back into cover even as the orcish priest shrieked and fell, the fast acting poison doing its job. She knew that she had potentially either bought herself some more time, or incited them to try and overrun her. She had a bad feeling it would be the latter, and not the former. The priests of the Dark Goddess were notorious for the zeal they infused their followers with, whether it was from devotion or terror was up for debate.

The effectiveness of them on the battlefield was not up for debate, though.

A heavy silence fell over them all, then an outraged voice started to scream in Orcish, and the goblins let out a primal scream as they rushed towards the lone defender, lost in their zealous adulation and terror of the other priest.

Nabiki gritted her teeth as she watched them scramble up towards her. They no longer showed any fear or trepidation towards the losses they were likely to suffer in their mad ascent. The fear of the priest and his lash, along with the disfavor of the Dark Mistress, drove them forward now.

Nabiki was fully engaged in a rush, and thought she would be swept away in the green tide. She slashed and stabbed, and managed to pull free of them. Her knives dropped with the blood of the goblins, and she already bled from multiple cuts, but she gritted her teeth and struggled onward. She would die here, but she vowed it would be a costly victory for them.

Avery conflicted Xian Pu watched the battle from on high, her slitted eyes fixed on Nabiki as she ducked and wove through the throng of goblins, every movement another step in her dance of death. Xian Pu knew well how capable the annoying human was, and how difficult of an opponent she could be. She knew that she should be happy to see her fall, that a major threat to her and those she followed would be removed, yet she wasn't. She could feel a rising surge of anger, of possessiveness rising faster and faster, and it called to her to act.

Movement at the base of the shattered stairs drew Xian Pu's attention as one of the dark-clad priests if the Goddess started to make his way to the top. He carried his holy Kash in one hand, and the other hand kept dipping to the curved blade at his waist when he didn't have to use it to climb. She watched as he made his way to the top, and started to sneak up on Nabiki from behind while she was particularly hard pressed. As he raised his curved blade high, Xian Pu's frazzled nerves finally snapped. With a feline yowl of rage, the small cat leaped from her perch, and several eyes locked on her, the priest's and Nabiki's among them. Then, she resumed her natural form.

The orc managed a scream of terror as the oddly colored cat became Xian Pu, the Claw of the King before he was crushed by the four-hundred and fifty pounds of angry teeth, claws, and muscle. His throat made a very satisfying crunch as it snapped in Xian Pu's powerful jaws, and the coppery taste of his blood settled her nerves somewhat. For a long moment, Xian Pu and Nabiki exchanged looks, before Nabiki pressed her back against the powerful hindquarters of the felinoid demoness.

"You and I are going to have a very, very long talk when we get out of this " Nabiki said in a cold, threatening tone of voice

Xian Pu didn't care. The sound of the human's voice filled her with an odd sense of glee and anticipation. No matter how unpleasant the coming talk would be, in the short term, she was fairly certain it might lead to more… Enjoyable… pastimes