Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Between Death and Reality ❯ No Longer Afraid ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer: I think we all know what goes here.

 

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

 

Chapter 9

 

No Longer Afraid

 

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

 

“Did you really think it was over?” Karasu asked. “Did you think I would be defeated so easily?”

 

“I sort of did,” Kurama replied through clenched teeth.

 

“Our battle could not end so easily, my kitsune.”

 

“How did you gain form?” Kurama asked, not falling for the bait. A smirk appeared on the crow's face.

 

“We've been over this,” he laughed. Emerald eyes narrowed. “I told you that your pain and fear gave me strength. During our last encounter, there was more than enough of both to give me form.”

 

“I killed you.”

 

“In a manner, yes. But when that plant hit me, I returned the favor. I've marked you.” Kurama immediately looked down at his arm and gasped. His upper bicep was bleeding. And amongst the red an image that looked suspiciously like a crow appeared, as if branded. Its eyes shone red from the blood. “As you can see, no mere dream death could get rid of me.”

 

“What are you?” Kurama asked suddenly. He had been sensing it for awhile now, but had never been able to figure out what it meant. There did not seem to be any life energy in the body. Only… emotion. Lust, anger, hatred, fear, aggression. Karasu's smirk grew.

 

“The ever-perceptive fox. You're right; I am not alive. Not in the technical sense. My soul resides in Spirit World now, as, undoubtedly, the ferry girl has seen firsthand. But that doesn't mean I have no power of my own. Power comes from emotion, and that is what I am. I am all of Karasu's dark emotion left over from the Dark Tournament. When you killed him, his emotion was so strong that it would not allow him to move on. So, he shed me. Since that say, my single goal has been you, Kurama.” The fox blinked as things began to click into place: the energy source that had been seen around Hanging Neck Island, the dark presence in his room, the rogue demons that had been attacking, and of course, the injury-inducing nightmares.

 

“Because I was born of dark emotion towards you, your own dark emotions give me strength. As you began to lose sleep, I gained strength and was able to enter your dreams,” he continued.

 

“And cause injury,” Kurama said. Karasu nodded.

 

“Finally, I had enough power to cause such injury that you wouldn't wake, no matter how much you fought me. In that dream, I gained enough power to leave your mind and take form.”

 

“And now you've come to finish what was started all those months ago,” Kurama said, narrow eyes still on the figure in front of him.

 

“You might say that. Back then, my goal was to kill you. While that would please me, and give me great power, it would not be enough.”

 

“Enough for what?”

 

“Enough to have my soul return to this body. To do that, I will break you. And place you at my side forever. The constant despair will be more than enough to become whole once more.” Karasu laughed and Kurama shivered.

 

“One problem,” Yusuke growled from behind. “We won't let you.”

 

“Ah, the loyalty of friends. How touching,” Karasu sneered. Kurama turned to his friends.

 

“No, Yusuke.” The Spirit Detective blinked.

 

“But Kurama, you're still recovering!”

 

“I know, but this is something I have to do myself. If I don't settle this myself, it will never truly end,” the fox said softly, though his voice was filled with cold determination. Hiei, noticing this, put a hand on Yusuke's shoulder.”

 

“Let him do this,” he said.

 

“Like a man,” Kuwabara added. Watching the fox for a moment, Yusuke finally relented.

 

“Alright.” Kurama nodded and turned back to Karasu.

 

“Let's end this,” he said.

 

“It's just beginning for you, my kitsune,” the crow replied.

 

“Good luck,” Botan whispered. Yusuke squeezed her shoulder comfortingly.

 

“He'll be alright. You'll see.”

 

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

 

Kurama watched his opponent impassively, though his mind was racing. I can't let this last too long. I have just enough energy to use my Rose Whip or my Death Plant. Nothing more. Also, my wounds haven't healed. They're only closed at this point. He looked down at the brand on his arm. And this will only slow me down. If it's touched, I think I'll lose consciousness. Nothing drawn out. No running this time.

 

Watching Karasu, Kurama knew the crow would try and draw this out. It was how he had nearly broken the fox in the dream and he was bound to try it again. Kurama reached for his hair and pulled out a rose. Instantly, he held his Rose Whip. Karasu tsked.

 

“Same old tricks, Kurama.”

 

“They've kept me alive up until this point,” he retorted.

 

“Touché. But that streak is about to end.”

 

I must control my fear. He will only get stronger if I don't. And I don't need an extra-strong Karasu in my weakened condition. Kurama continued to watch Karasu, waiting to see if he would make a move. Suddenly, the air around the brand on his arm felt heavy. He gasped and jumped back, just as the air exploded. His eyes widened slightly at the smoke that had almost been his arm… and probably his life. He lashed out with his Rose Whip, but Karasu dodged easily.

 

“It seems you have a long way to go to recover,” Karasu taunted. Kurama bit back a snarl. There had to be something. There was always something. An idea suddenly hit the fox. If I have enough energy for my whip, I should have enough for that.

 

Grasping his whip, Kurama charged Karasu, who readied himself for an attack from the whip. He lashed with the whip, forcing the crow to dodge. However, the instant Karasu moved, Kurama dropped his whip, grabbed a seed and, only instants later, held a familiar plant sword in his hand. He followed Karasu and intercepted him. Violet eyes widened in shock at the red-head's appearance. Kurama slashed with the weapon, but Karasu dodged once more. Both demons landed; Karasu's top had a long rip in it, but there was no blood. Kurama's sword returned to seed form.

 

“That was a clever trick, Kurama. Too bad it didn't work,” Karasu said. Kurama grimaced. He could feel at least one of his wounds had broken open and the brand still seared painfully. He felt a wave of dizziness and his vision swam before he could straighten himself once more. Karasu stepped on the rose the fox had dropped and Kurama winced. His plants were a part of him, so seeing them hurt was uncomfortable. Wait! The plants! We're in a garden!

 

Karasu's energy began to climb. Realizing this was his best chance, Kurama forced his body to vanish with speed and he stopped among flowers taller than he was. I don't have enough energy to pull his off completely, but it's the only chance I have to keep this from being drawn out. I'm already tiring, and if it doesn't work, I'm dead, or worse, anyway. It's not pretty, but I have to try.

 

Putting a hand to the ground, Kurama gathered all the power he could muster, keeping it underneath the surface of his spirit so Karasu wouldn't be able to sense it; it was a dam waiting to burst. One shot, he reminded himself. Make it count. He didn't need the mental warning of `He's coming' from Hiei to know that the crow was approaching his hiding place.

 

“Come on out, Kurama,” the crow crooned. “Hiding only delays the inevitable.” Still crouching low, Kurama waited until he could make out Karasu's shape among the plants. He closed his eyes. Make it count. He wasn't sure if those were his words or Hiei's, but he knew they were true. Images of his friends flew though his head.

 

“I'm not hiding,” Kurama said fiercely as he let the dam of energy burst. The plants immediately responded to the plant master's touch. They grew at an immeasurable rate, ends sharp as Hiei's katana. They surrounded Karasu, stopping inches from him as Kurama stood.

 

“Now die,” he growled. The crow's violet eyes widened as the plants on every side of him impaled him. He screamed in pain before silencing forever. He dropped to the ground limply. Karasu was dead. Kurama suddenly felt weak.

 

“It's over,” he whispered before also crumpling to the ground.

 

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

 

The group of four watched as Kurama swayed on his feet. “It's over,” they heard him say before collapsing. Four sets of eyes watched the lithe form crumple for a minute in shock before it set in.

 

“Kurama!” Yusuke yelled as he ran toward his fallen friend, the other two close behind. Hiei, naturally, had beaten them all there. The fire demon knelt by his friend's side, feeling for a pulse.

 

“He has a pulse, but it's weak,” he told the other three. They all sighed in relief. “He used all the energy he had regained to kill Karasu,” Hiei said, looking at the dead demon. With a snarl, the crow's body went up in flames. The fire demon turned back to Kurama's unconscious form.

 

“He's bleeding,” Yusuke said suddenly. Kurama's arm, where he had been marked, was bleeding, as were several other parts of his body.

 

“His wounds must have reopened,” Botan said. “He hadn't gained back enough energy to heal his wounds, only close them fully.”

 

“Let's get him to Genkai,” Kuwabara said, then suddenly brightened, “and Yukina!” Yusuke smacked him on the back of the head.

 

“Moron. This isn't the time!”

 

“The fool is right, though. He needs medical attention, though his body is on guard right now. Genkai could at least try to close the wounds once more,” Hiei replied, sounding distasteful of agreeing with the orange-haired boy.

 

“Then get him to his house,” Botan said. The three Tantei turned to her. “Genkai was coming to check on him later, anyway.”

 

“Then let's go!” Yusuke said, picking up the limp form of his friend. The group left the garden, paying no mind to the flames that were burning down.

 

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

 

“What the hell happened?” Genkai demanded of the four, who were sitting in Kurama's bedroom. The fox in question was lying unconscious on his bed.

 

“Karasu came back. In the flesh,” Yusuke replied. Genkai's eyes widened.

 

“And you let him fight?” she demanded. Know the condition he's in?”

 

“More like he wouldn't let us,” Yusuke replied heatedly. “He wanted to settle it for good and said if we helped, it couldn't be settled.” Genkai sighed, looking at the drained demon.

 

“Damn proud fox,” she said, though there was no heat in her words. She turned back to the others. “Karasu is dead then?”

 

“Yeah,” Yusuke said, relating the tale. When he was finished, Genkai looked once more at the fox.

 

“Always keeping things interesting, I suppose.”

 

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

 

First there was pain, then there were voices in the darkness. His entire being ached, but his arm continued to throb.

 

“Genkai said he should wake up some time today,” a female voice said.

 

“I hope so. All this worrying is going to kill me,” a male voice said. Kurama mentally smiled.

 

“Not like that hasn't happened before, Yusuke,” he said softly, opening his eyes slowly. He realized he was in his bedroom as he saw Yusuke staring at him, while Kuwabara was laughing.

 

“Kurama! You're barely awake and you're turning on me?!” he said, voiced exuding betrayal, though he was trying vainly to fight a smile.

 

“We're just glad you're alright,” Botan said from his side. Kurama gave her a smile, which she returned.

 

“How long have I been out?” he asked, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

 

“A couple of days,” Yusuke replied. “You totally maxed out your energy in that fight.”

 

“Not that I had all that much to start with,” Kurama snorted.

 

“We were worried you had dug into your life energy with that last attack,” Kuwabara said.

 

“I think I did,” Kurama said after a moment. “But I guess I had enough left.”

 

“Yeah, we `guess so' too,” Botan said sarcastically, though she was trying hard not to laugh.

 

“Ha ha, real funny you guys,” the red-head said with a smile.

 

“You shouldn't pick on injured people, Urameshi,” Kuwabara scolded. Yusuke looked affronted.

 

“It wasn't me! It was Botan,” he said defensively. Kuwabara looked over at the ferry girl; she merely smiled.

 

“It's alright, Kuwabara,” Kurama cut in, still smiling. “I'm fine. Just a little low on power, but I'm fine.”

 

“A little low on power?” Kuwabara snorted.

 

“That's an understatement,” Yusuke added.

 

“Well, it's not like I haven't experienced this before,” Kurama said. “I just need a few days to recover.”

 

“And then you have to finish healing yourself,” Botan added. Kurama scowled slightly.

 

“As long as I've had them now, they will have to heal on their own. They're past the point that I can heal them,” he said.

 

“So that means,” Yusuke began.

 

“That they'll leave scars,” Kurama finished. Not just physically, but mentally and spiritually as well, he sighed to himself. “But they'll fade in time.” They all will. Looking around, all the faces in the room were somber.

 

“What about my mother?” he asked, changing the subject.

 

“She's asleep, actually,” Botan replied. “She's been so worried about you. I finally convinced her to get some sleep.”

 

“What does she think happened?”

 

“Genkai managed to convince her you were still weak from your stay in the hospital and had fallen asleep when you got home,” Yusuke replied. Kurama sighed.

 

“Sometimes she's a little too trusting,” he said.

 

“She knows you're special,” Botan said softly. “But she doesn't want to worry more than she already does. She believes in you and loves you.” Kurama smiled.

 

“Thank you,” he said softly. She returned the smile.

 

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

 

Kurama lay in bed, staring at the dark ceiling as the pale moonlight drifted in through the window. He was tired but didn't feel like sleeping.

 

Don't tell me you're avoiding sleeping again. Kurama smiled in spite of himself.

 

I'm not. I… I'm just not ready to sleep tonight.

 

Hn. Kurama pushed himself to a sitting position in bed to see Hiei's silhouette in the window.

 

“It's over,” Kurama whispered.

 

“Yes,” Hei replied.

 

“The body?”

 

“Burned.”

 

“I suppose the plants are dead now.”

 

“Hn.”

 

“When I have my energy back, I'll do something for them. Plant some new ones if I mist. It's the least I can do.”

 

“Do you think anything will be able to grow there again? After that?”

 

“I think so,” Kurama replied thoughtfully.

 

“Oh?”

 

“If I can recover, so can they,” he said softly.

 

“But it will take time,” Hiei said, watching his friend.

 

“It will take time,” Kurama agreed. “But I'll move on. There's nothing else to do.”

 

“I see.” The two sat in companionable silence for awhile, neither feeling anything else needed to be said. Their friendship seemed to have grown stronger during this, and for that both parties were grateful, though neither had to say it

 

“Yusuke asked me something while you were comatose,” Hiei said after awhile. Kurama looked at his friend.

 

“And what was that?”

 

He asked if I loved you, Hiei replied. Kurama blinked.

 

“And what did you tell him?”

 

“I said yes,” he replied after a moment. “As a partner. As a teammate. As a friend. As a brother.” Kurama was speechless at this. Hiei rarely opened up, even to him. But, he supposed, the near-death experiences changed things slightly.

 

“Thank you, Hiei.”

 

“Hn.”

 

“You know I feel the same.”

 

“Hn.” Kurama smiled. Yes, Hiei knew.

 

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

 

Author's Notes: With the last chapter being the final (epilogue), I didn't want to end it all with author's notes, so here they are:

 

1) The epilogue should be up in a few days.

 

2) Thank you to all of you for reading, and those of you who reviewed. It's made writing this story even more fun.

 

3) I'm debating a sequel to this story. I'm already planning a post-series fic (description in my profile), so I was wondering if anyone was interested in having that as a sequel. If that's the popular opinion, the paring will change, but it's not a big deal at all. All that will change in the next story is including the canon from BDAR in the new one instead of it standing alone. Leave me a review in one of these last two chapters and tell me what you think. Whether it's a sequel or not, the story (untitled at this point) should be out fairly soon after the last chapter of this one is done. Thanks again for reading!