Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Thoughts ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

I do not follow him this morning. I followed him all night, so I have to be present this morning, especially since today is the day of the final round, the day I get to fulfill my desires, the need I've felt burning in my flesh since I first saw him. The four of us wait to enter the ring, Bui silent in his armor, Toguro Ani on Toguro Otouto's shoulder and me, standing to the side, waiting for the announcer to call us in. The crowd cheers loudly when we enter the ring, but I don't care about them. My eyes are focused on the entrance across the way, on where he will appear. Finally, the announcer calls them forth.

 

He appears, with blood red hair. Where is the Youko? I know he can call forth his other side. Why has he not? Does he think he will have time later to swallow that drink? He should know better than that. My eyes narrow and my hunger flashes out from them. He startles and then puts on a determined face. Good, he's watching me, he knows he is mine. A small smile graces my hidden lips. I can hardly wait until our fight begins. It is already decided that I will go first. I don't think I could handle any more anticipation.

 

Some idiot in the crowd complains that both teams only have four members. That didn't bother them before. Why should it now? I do suppose that the requirement of five wins could be a problem if there are only four contestants in a battle to the death. There will be no ten counts in this fight. Sakyo joins us, claiming that he will not fight but wants to watch from the best vantage point. The young ruler of the Reikai joins their team, flashing a rocket pack on his back. Gods, he is a fool. Some one from the crowd calls for Genkai to appear. Fools, she cannot. The announcer is about to call forfeit if their team cannot produce her or her body since substitutions can only be made on the death of one team member. Sakyo smoothly cuts in, “We don't mind.”

 

I add, wanting to needle him, to make him angrier, to make him that much more delectable, “As I see it, since we couldn't sense her Reiki very much at all anyway, she would only be window dressing in order to achieve the required number of people, right?” His eyes narrow at me, as if he wants to tear me limb from limb. Oh, this is exciting. I walk into the ring, look directly into his eyes and bring a finger to my head, slowly saying, “Bang!” I am so excited! To finally share our intimacy!

 

The idiot rei ken wielder makes a move to fight me. How dare he! But, my Kurama stops him, saying that he will take me on. I am pleased. He knows he is mine. He knows he is mine, and, if he is worthy, I will be his. The rei ken wielder asks if he has the drug from the clown. He replies, “I tried it out several times, and when you use it as a liquid, it takes a little bit of time for its effects to appear.” This seems to upset the other, to which he calmly replies, “I'm not so daring as to use it abruptly in the middle of battle.” For this I am grateful, or last night would not have been so entertaining. He jumps into the ring and continues to reassure the rei ken wielder, though he looks at me, “Suzuki was correct in what he said. One swallow will allow me to return to my original form for about 15 minutes. That's plenty of time to defeat this guy.” Oh, he is so sure of himself!

 

The fool announcer declares our match has begun. I face him, acting as though I had not heard what he said before, “You're sure you're okay like that? You must have gotten a glimpse of my power earlier. Knowing that, you haven't come here to be killed without putting up a fight, right?”

 

His face, his very expressive face shows determination, anger, and a touch of fear. “I'll change soon enough,” he declares boldly. “If it's to defeat you, I'll become anything I have to!” An answer I'd expect from someone worthy of my time!

 

A smile touches my lips hidden beneath the mask, “I'll count on that.”

 

I watch him as he holds out a palm of rose petals and with his ki sets them dancing around his body. He is beautiful surrounded by the petals. He moves to a graceful pose and calls forth his power, “Fuuka enbu-jin!” The dancing petals approach me, and I do nothing because I am entranced by their beauty and curios as to what they do. One touches my cheek, leaving behind it a shallow cut.

 

“An array of flower petals, sharpened to have to have a razor's edge, huh? It's quite elegant. However, they are fragile.” I smile and begin to insert my own ki into the delicate blossom petals, “Frail. Weak…not to mention fleeting things.” All around me, the petals explode.

 

He looks surprised. It is then I understand. He cannot see my ki, he does not understand how it works. He has made certain assumptions. If he is to be worthy of me, he must understand. I need the Youko! “You've got my power all wrong, don't you?” I taunt him, hoping his anger will bring forth the Youko. “I inject my own Youki into the body of whomever I touch, causing an explosion from the inside. That is what you thought, isn't it?” I can see from his face, it is. The time for secrets is past. If I truly wish to enjoy this, he must understand and fully participate. There can be no confusion between us. “You cannot see the true form of my Youki, which is to say, that is the difference between our spectral powers…I will ask you again. Are you sure you're okay in that form?” I launch myself at him, attacking him for the first time. He cannot track my motions as he is. I am disappointed. He finally sees me and brings out his rose whip as he leaps above me. With little ki from me, it explodes. I continue to question him as I attack, hoping the Youko will be drawn out by my challenges. Where is he? “You still refuse to give up, even knowing the difference in our abilities? Most laudable.” And, it is. He is determined, but he is also not strong enough for me, though he dodges my touch well. Had I not seen the Youko, I may have been content to take his intimacy. “That is, after all, why I like you.” Why hide anything now? “However,” my tone becomes sharper, “no matter how much affection you lavish upon some thing you like, in time they grow old and die!” This angers me, “In which case, I will kill them with my own hands!” He looks startled at this, especially since I just told him that I like him. “I have always done so! When something that I love dies at my hands, it feels so good, I cannot stand it!” Do you understand how much your death will satisfy me? Do you know how much I need the Youko to appear? I launch myself above him and he again looses track of me. I allow him to see me as I dive, arm out stretched to him.

 

He lunges away from me, just out of reach, and lands on the opposite side of the ring. I cause some of my ki to explode by his arm. He turns to face me, eyes wide. Does he still not understand? “I did not touch you just now,” I tell him. His anger is written across his face, as is confusion. He moves to run and I leap over him, landing opposite him and cause another explosion by his leg.

 

He cries out in pain, a very unattractive confused look on his face. I just told him, is he that stupid? I expected better of him. Where is the Youko?

 

“Alright, I'll give you a hint. Just as you are able to control your plants with you Youki, I am also able to control a certain thing.” He watches me intently, confusion leaving his face. That is better. “What's more, I am also able to create it.” I raise my right hand, holding it before my face, watching him. “It is in my right hand at this moment.” His eyes look at my hand, but they do not focus on anything. Disappointed, I continue, “Even so, you probably are unable to see it. I've grown tired of talking.” If the Youko will not appear, then, “Are you just about ready to die?” I push more of my Youki into the bomb in my hand and watch him. If the Youko will not appear, then I will ensure that he knows how he died. Though my intimacy will not be complete, I will ensure his is. “Lastly, I will take this spiritual object that I control, and intensify its manifestation even further so that you can see it.”

 

“Wha…?” he stammers out, finally seeing. This has to be one of the strongest bombs I've made. I wonder, is he worthy of it.

 

“It's a bomb,” I tell him, helpfully as I leap over him and send it flying. I force it to explode where it will contact his body and land out of the blast field. I feel a sharp pain in my hand and look down to see a rose through it. He did not surrender to me. I smile as I pull it out, “That was a sharp trick.”

 

I know he is not dead, I can feel the flickering in his youki. The Youko is finally appearing. Finally! As the smoke of the explosion and his appearance clears, he speaks, “That was a close one. Had this been Minamino Shuichi's body, it would have been blown to bits.” He looks at me with his golden eyes, so different from the green of the red one. “You create bombs, huh? I am pleased to meet someone from the class among the Youkai with abilities to control things, the Quest Class, but I am still going to have to kill you!”

 

So formal, so polite, so desirable. I desire death by his hands, but I will not just give it to him. “It is you who is going to die!” I manifest my bombs around myself and he smiles.

 

“I can see those clearly now. So, those things hovering around you are the explosives you control, huh?” I send the two bombs flying at him and he casually reaches into his hair, closing his eyes. Such confidence! He draws out two bits of his youki that form themselves into roses, blood colored roses, and tosses them casually into my bombs, forcing them to explode before they reach him. “I get it now,” his voice is smug with confidence, “if my opponent is a Quest class youkai, that would explain why Minamino Shuichi is not yet up to the task.”

 

I am surprised. He believes his other form could defeat me? “Not yet, you say?”

 

He taunts me, now. “What will be your excuse when you loose? You cannot beat me, even as you are now.”

 

I am excited and angered. “Would you like to try?” I challenge, manifesting several bombs around me. He leaps from where he stands, dodging the initial onslaught, but the bombs follow him. “'Trace-eye' homing bombs. They are subordinate beings, made from my Youki. It is the power of the Quest that allows the image to materialize.”

 

As he continues to dodge the trace-eye bombs, he speaks, “Do you know of the plant known as the Ojigi Sou? It is a perennial plant from South America, which reacts to vibrations, to being touched, or to flammables close by closing its leaves.”

 

I watch as the bombs continue to chase him, “I am not interested in horticulture.” He is so graceful, so beautiful. He lands and I manifest a myriad of bombs around him. “You're surrounded! This is what you might call a desperate situation.”

 

He smiles, “I'm not so sure about that.” He then begins a chant. “Argon tentagram bicheon sabbat adonai.” Around him swirls a massive amount of youki, enveloping him, causing my bombs to destroy themselves. When it clears, he is standing next to a large plant, a hungry looking plant. “The Ojigi Sou of the Makai is rather aggressive.” His tone is one of a proud parent, he views the plant as his child. Interesting. I continue to listen, a little more interested in horticulture now. “It goes after anything that moves or is laden with flammables on its own.” Without moving his head, he speaks to the announcer, “Woman, unless you wish to die, do not move.” It seems he cannot completely control it, then. Several of the plants flowers reveal themselves to have teeth. What an exciting plant. His eyes narrow at me, “It appears that it has considered you to be its enemy.” Maybe he does have more control over it than I thought.

 

I cannot think further about it, though, as it attacks me. It moves quickly, and I am forced to flee from it. He taunts me again, the cocky bastard, “You cannot run from it!” Several branches burst from the ring, forcing me to stop running. I look at him and there is laughter in his face. How dare he laugh at me! Does he not understand what we are to share? Does he not understand his part in this? How clearly must I explain it?

 

From above the blossoms, from almost a second mouth, rays of heat, of vicious ki, reach out. Again, I am forced to dodge it. I grow weary of this. I manifest a bomb and throw it to the plant. He said it attacked flames, maybe it will attack itself if it is on fire. I land, waiting. What will it do? For a moment, it is confused by the flames, but he must direct it. It comes bursting through the flames toward me again. I cannot believe it! I begin to feel the beginnings of something I cannot ever remember feeling before, but is strangely familiar. Can it be fear?

 

Again he speaks, his voice taunting me, “They do have feelings, so it would be bad if you angered them.” Dare he laugh at me? “You're half-assed attack has created an adverse reaction.” His voice is hard when he says this, and then he dares to mock me, “'Bang!'”

 

The Ojigi Sou captures me, wrapping its leaves around my body. I release my mask, a painful process since it is attached into my mouth and the area it covers. I will need my full strength to defeat him. He is worthy of all my strength, of all my power. Our intimacy will be complete, neither of us holding back! The plant continues to cover my body, surrounding me completely. Through the muffling of the leaves I can hear him. “That was more disappointing that I was expecting. I would have liked to toy with you another two or three minutes.”

 

I smile and think, `Just wait, we're not finished yet.' I can hear him walking off. The useless announcer then stutters, “Let's see…Judging Karasu-senshi to be unable to continue fighting, Kurama-senshi is the victor!”

 

That is what you think! I increase my energy, causing the plant to droop, overwhelmed by my strength. I hear him stop walking. Then, I cause it to explode. He is startled, I hear the “What?!” escape him.

 

Before the smoke clears, I say to the woman, “Who are you calling incapable of fighting?” It is the first thing I say without my mask. Too bad it's not directed to him.

 

The worthless one stammers, fear radiating from her, “I-I was wrong! My mistake! The match continues! Please excuse me!” She runs from the ring, and I am left with him, alone. The crowd does not matter, only he does.

 

“I've taking a liking to you, Kurama. Now I want to kill you even more.” Oh, how I want to kill him. It is a hunger that fills my body. I also long for him to kill me, as well, but that cannot interfere with this….if he is worthy, he will succeed in taking my intimacy. I draw in to my body everything that I can turn into explosives. I can feel my body changing, becoming more powerful. He steps back from me, feeling the change, too. “Die!” as my body begins to glow with the energy I've drawn into it. It's intoxicating, this power. I leap at him, laughing.

 

My blow strikes him. I can feel it. I can feel the change in his youki. It also takes out a good portion of the stadium, but I do not care about that. He is all that matters. I continue to laugh, still feeling drunk with power and the nearness of our intimacy.

 

He struggles from out from under the debris. The red head is back. The Youko used his youki to save himself, so there is not enough left in the body to maintain his form. He looks upset, confused, angry. I watch him a moment, taking in the blood red hair, the beautiful face. His face in this form is more beautiful, the eyes more innocent, expressive, his hair, exquisite. Finally, I speak, taunting him, “Sorry to interrupt you while you're lost in thought, but it's time to say your prayers, that you may at least die an easy death.” Though there is no hope of that. I laugh again.

 

His face resolves into anger and he reaches for his hair, drawing out a rose. His hand is trembling with exhaustion and anger. He is so weak now, but he continues to struggle. I truly did make the best choice when I picked him. The rose explodes on it's own. I continue laughing, “It would appear you don't have enough youki left to make a plant into a weapon. You are no longer up to being able to see my youki either, are you?” The announcer says something inane, but I no longer care about her. “Announce that you have given up and I will kill you in such a way that you will not suffer.” If he accepts this, he is not worthy of me. I know he will not accept, not now, not that we have come so far and are so close.

 

I am right. He runs and leaps into the ring, attacking me physically. I leap and he follows me, his hand slicing near my throat. I dodge, but some of my hair is cut off by his blow. I am impressed, but I cannot let it show. What is he after? He has not resorted to physical attack with any other opponent. I know what it must be. He desires our intimacy as well. I will give it to him, but not easily. “Have you lost your mind from you injuries? Coming close to me is suicidal!”

 

His face is determined as he answers through gritted teeth, “If I can't see your youki, then it's all the same, no matter where I am!” He has a point. His intelligence is intact. That is good to know. We land opposite each other in the ring and I send a blast to him. He dodges it, leaping toward me, his hands thrusting against my chest. I feel the shimaneki sou he thrust deeply enough in my chest to draw blood. Had it not been for the Youko, I would have been content with this, but not now. His thrust sends me across the ring.

 

“That was a pretty good thrust….or so I'd like to say,” and I would, but for the redundancy. I draw the seed out of my chest, “This is what you were after, right? The shimaneki sou, huh? Your rehashed attacks won't work.” I laugh and feel compelled to say something else. “Let me commend you for injuring me, not just once, but twice now.” I cause the seed to explode. He is beautiful when he is angry, very beautiful.

 

Anger flares in his eyes, his face. I can feel the bloodlust radiating from him. He will take me, if he can. From below his feet, a trap springs, one of my making. I catch him. The surprise on his face is beautiful as well. The little bomb comes up and taunts him, “Caught you!” A delightful little toy.

 

“My underground explosive, the matsutei bomu.” I just feel like informing him, he is so expressive in this form. I enjoy every emotion that crosses his face.

 

“Just a little longer,” the bomb teases just before it explodes, hurling him across the ring, his face a perfect mask of agony. He lays, face down a moment before struggling attain to his feet. So determined to be worthy of me! Finally, he makes it, wavering, to his feet. He glares at me. Beautiful! I laugh as I surround his body with bombs.

 

From without the ring, Yusuke yells, “Kurama, don't move! You're surrounded!” Such a pity Toguro Otouto claimed him already. He would have been worthy of me, as well. Kurama freezes, even his trembling stopping as a shocked expression covers his face. It's almost as if….but that cannot be.

 

I taunt him, to change his expression, “Even if you'd like to move, it must be all you can do just to stand up, right? There's nothing you can do. You can't call any plants from the Makai. You can no longer…” I step closer to him, “make a plant into a weapon, either.” Another step closer, “Am I wrong?” His eyes widen, and I'm almost certain this time. He is looking at the bombs floating around him. “It would be a simple matter for me to blow you to bits.” I am angry with him if he is holding back on me! “But I'm not going to do so!”

 

One by one, I cause my bombs to come close to him, his leg, his back, his chest, watching as they explode and his body contorts. His face, his beautiful face, is a mask of pain and agony. So beautiful! He falls to his hands and knees. I watch as he again struggles to his feet again. He is so determined to prove himself worthy of me! The joy our intimacy will bring! “You've done well to put me to this much trouble.” Though, it is not truly trouble, but for appearance sake. I have been too kind to you, shared too many of my feelings with you. “I wish I could place you at my side forever…” but, since we will share our intimacy, I cannot refrain from once more telling you how I feel. “As your reward, I will let your beautiful face remain just as pretty as it is.” Do you know how beautiful you are? More explosions around his body until he falls again, landing flat on his chest, stretched out before me in supplication and worship.

 

The useless one begins to count, but that doesn't matter. He is preparing for something. I can feel it. What can he possibly do now? He is so weak, but he continues to struggle, to try to share with me. He is indeed worthy of me. The woman's voice irritates me, distracting me from watching him. “I don't need you to count,” I snap. “It's who lives and who dies!”

 

He continues to struggle, rising to his hands and knees. I gather another bomb into my hand, yelling at him, “Die!” Share with me the deepest of intimacies!

 

His face transforms, youki flaring around him. He summons….”A Kyuuketsu shokubbutsu?” It latches it self to the small wound in my chest, drawing out my life's blood. He has done it! But, “Impossible. There's now way you could summon this!” Unless….unless, he is killing himself to kill me….the joy…he …he has shared with me….the deepest…possible….intimacy….the ….joy……