Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Demon Dance ❯ Battle Lines ( Chapter 9 )

Kurama slipped into the apartment, having picked the lock on the front door. He moved to a window to let in Hiei as he wandered around the dark rooms. He found Ifurita passed out on her bed. He took off her boots and threw a blanket over her, anticipating that sleep would do her a world of good.

"Well, now that we have assembled, what should we do? We cannot risk killing that girl," Kurama stated, taking a seat on the couch.

"Hn. I don't see why. She is a threat. She must be dealt with accordingly," Hiei snarled.

"But her life is not ours to take. I think we should go to Genkai and see what she has to say," he retorted, rising to gather Ifurita. He doubted that she would awaken and would just carry her for the duration of the trip. Wrapping her in a blanket, he easily scooped up the lightweight demon.

"Hn." The pair left immediately, making good speed over the countryside to Genkai's temple.

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"This is a most bizarre chain of events. If what you say is true Kurama, we have a lot of work to do." The old physic began to pace the length of the room. Genkai was disturbed by the news they had brought her, and even more so by the memories she had taken from the sleeping ice youkai Kurama had carried here. None of it would bode well for them. Her hand reached into her pocket, pulling out a small vial of the drug Kurama had told her about. The fox had snitched some during the escape, giving it over to her for examination. She let her thoughts simmer when the soft thud of footsteps interrupted her.

"So, you're awake. I'm glad to see you are all right. Kurama brought you here to me in hopes that we can help your friend," Genkai explained to the girl as she strolled into the firelight. A blanket was warped around her shoulders, black bags under her black eyes told of the restless sleep she had endured.

"Since you know what's going on, what's next?" Ifurita asked, taking a seat on the couch to stare at the old woman. Even as she did so, a pair of youths walked in. One was shorter then the other, black hair and deep brown eyes both shining in the firelight. He wore a simple pair of jeans and a white tee shirt with a leather jacket over that. He flopped on the couch next to her, giving a cheesy grin. The other only loomed in a corner. His flame orange hair went well with the blue school uniform. His narrow eyes held a light of their own, but not much of that was intelligence.

"First of all, the two that came in should be introduced. They are part of what's next. The one on your right is Yusuke. He is my pupil and has a smart mouth so don't hesitate to hit him if he gets on your nerves." Yusuke shook a fist at the woman, his eyes holding a reluctant respect for her. "The other one standing in the corner is Kuwabara." She paused to pull out the vial from before. "This is what is controlling your friend." She passed it around the room, continuing to explain. "This drug combined with possible torture is the very thing that is making her unstable. Even without physical pain, in a large dose such as this would give the same effect. If we can work it out of her system, we have a chance to save her." When it came to Ifurita, she held it a bit longer, staring at it in wonder, or so they thought. When Genkai gave a subtle throat clearing, she seemed to be free of her trance, handing it back with care. "So far though, our only sure plan is that you will not come with us." On that signal, Kurama, and Hiei came from nowhere, jumping on the girl to seize her.

"What is this?" The ice youkai snarled as an ice sword formed in her free hand to swipe at Hiei. The little fire demon jumped out of range, his place taken by Yusuke. The spirit detective had an even harder time, taking a direct hit as he and Kurama dragged their screaming captive into a warded closet. She was tossed in with disregard for her own safety, the door melted shut by Hiei.

"You door shutting bastard!" she screamed, pounding on the door to no avail.

"This is for your own good Ifurita," the kitsune shouted through the steel door. "If you come with, you might not be able to strike when you must to finish off Skyre. This is for the best, for both of you." She only screamed again, continuing to pound on the door even after they had left. When all sounds stopped, she slumped against the door, reaching into her pant pocket for a small vial. She had made an exact duplicate of ice that had been handed back to the old psychic while the real one had been slipped into the recesses of her clothes. She pulled off the stopper and held it up in a silent toast, considering all aspects of what she was about to do.

"Time to fight fire with fire."

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As Yusuke led the team out of the temple down the street, an explosion rocked the city, part of the temple now a smoking ruin as a shadow leapt free of the rubble. A head of ice white hair and faint glowing eyes of a baby blue from edge to edge that glanced in their direction flashed for only an instant before disappearing into the smoke.

"This is not good," he shouted, running after the figure. He knew she was already gone. "How did so do that?" The gang only shrugged as Genkai reached into her pocket. Her widened eyes told the story as the pulled out a melting vial.

"An ice copy?" she breathed, clearly impressed by the show of power. As respect dawned on them, they looked to the smoking ruin of the temple and wondered who would win the showdown.

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An ice youkai flitted from rooftop to rooftop, her ice white hair flowing behind her like waves on the sea. Her eyes glowed a faint blue with no other color in them. There was no pupil, no iris, just a starry azure. Her body flowed like water from place to place, practically floating over the human city below her. No true thoughts crossed her mind, only concepts and images as she raced toward her brethren, wanting to finish something once and for all. In an instant with only a small bit of power, a scythe had appeared in her hand, a sign that Death was on the hunt tonight and that none would live to tell the tale.

Her flowing strides led her to the forest where the whole incident started. She found a clearing and sat to wait, her eyes reflecting the starlight above her. Not a breath of wind stirred in the cool night air. Not a single animal or insect dared to call out to each other in the still air. All was peaceful and still. She heard the sounds of footsteps long before their owner arrived. Human soldiers boiled forth, forming a ring around her with guns pointed at her heat or heart. She did not look at them. She did not move. She didn't even blink.

Instead, she opened her mouth, and sang.

Bullets flew and created a song of their own as they bounced off of her shield, falling harmlessly to the forest floor. Her song continued, easily heard over the barrage of gun cartridges. Soon she was singing two parts, both from her voice, but of different pitches and rhythms. They twined around each other, strengthening the barrier and eventually shattering all weapons outside of it. As her song grew in volume and pitch, still somehow adding a third part to make a three part harmony, ice spread like a plague, making all living matter in all directions into ice crystals. Humans died instantly, and trees became only lifeless statues that were a tribute to a time before. Animals and insects attempted to flee and only delayed their inevitable demise.

When the last note died away, a barren icy tundra now existed in the middle of the forest. She then rose from her ice throne, waving her scythe to clear away the frozen human corpses that littered her throne room. They each fractured into shards, chiming on the frozen ground like countless bells. Her mouth held a small smile, her eyes still reflecting the starlight from overhead, a light that was now reflecting and refracting off of her kingdom.

A soft thump behind her gave away the presence of a new enemy. The ice youkai turned to see a wolf behind her. In each hand was a scimitar that cried for blood to stain the icy surroundings. Both locked eyes with the other, a pure hatred and loathing almost thick enough to cut passed between them. Even as Kurama ran near, yelling at them to not move, they each raised their weapon of choice and engaged in a demon dance.