Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Demon Dance ❯ Retribution ( Chapter 13 )

Hiei danced among the treetops, flitting from one spot to the next with ease. Skyre/Aka was supposed to be tracking her, but he felt confident in his abilities to elude her. He rested for a moment, casting his gaze over his shoulder, his black hair brushing the branch above him. He sensed her ki and dived away, hearing a thunk in the tree he had vacated. He stopped to look at what had been hit. Skyre/Aka sat there now, pulling free a dagger with a tuft of his hair on it. They locked eyes with him, grinning broadly at their accomplishment. The collar of silver shined in the dim light. Hiei allowed himself to smile in return before leading the chase again to the next task

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Kurama leaned casually against one tree, waiting for Hiei to dash across the clearing. For months now, Skyre and Akahoshi were learning to work together in all aspects. This was the final test to see if they as a group would be able to defeat Camber once and for all. They were given the drug and wore the collar, but both had been modified so as to pose no threat. The drug worked as a stimulant and the collar as a training device, giving only the smallest of electric jolts to correct a wrong move.

*I must admit that Ifurita is impressive. I didn't think she would be able to rewire that collar to make it work to our advantage.* He pulled a rose from his hair, inhaling its sweet scent as he waited. A passing wind was his signal, and with a twist of power his whip lay coiled at his feet. Sensing his opponent, he moved to attack, his speed blinding as his whip sliced the very air. None of his attempts hit her, her movements too quick for even his whip to injure her. They both vanished for a moment, Kurama taking haven in a tree and Skyre/Aka appearing right behind him, scimitars slicing at his exposed backside.

His whip fell in pieces as a pair of blades slid to his throat. He gave a half smile and grudgingly held up his hands in defeat. Skyre/Aka removed the weaponry and backed away a handful of paces. They grinned and dashed off for the last test, a fight against Ifurita, who had been undergoing the same training as them. The kitsune followed easily to the arranged place, watching carefully to judge just how far they had come.

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Ifurita drew her double bladed ax from the folds of her cloak as Skyre/Aka came into view. No one had quite figured out what to call them when they worked as a pair as they did now. Calling out either name made the other feel left out or insulted. Kurama had suggested Saka, to which Hiei changed it to Baka and earned himself a swift punch in the face. Genkai had changed it a bit, making it Saika, but there was still some confusion.

Names are just getting far too confusion. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, waiting impatiently for their fight. Her eyes glowed a blue white in the dim lighting of the undergrowth. She did not become the berserker that Skyre had, but that could have been because she was more of a bestial demon then Ifurita. Her power only increased dramatically. She stood ready, swinging her blade idly when a stray dagger landed at her feet, buried to the hilt in the dirt. The ice youkai bent down to return it the owner, Hiei catching it with practiced ease. That was the agreed upon signal. Saika was coming.

The wolf youkai bounded into the arranged field, tail raised like a banner as she ran on all fours. She bared her fangs in a silent challenge, resting on her haunches for the final test to begin. Ifurita nodded in return, holding her ax before her in one hand while a sword formed in the other.

"Bring it on bitch." Saika lunged, scimitars drawn to meet her. Ifurita dodged the overhead chop to react with one of her own. Her ax met only air as the wolf rolled out of harms way. Both laughed, faces alight with excitement. This was the most fun they had had in months and it was against each other. And so it went for an hour. A dodge to one side brought them face to face for a quick spar before breaking off again to come back from another angle. Neither could gain an advantage against the other. After a time though, the drugs wore off and both were left drained of energy with sweat drenched clothes clinging to their skin. A sarcastic clapping rang over the area as Genkai walked forward, keeping a steady rhythm as she walked toward them.

"Well done you two. I must say I am very impressed with how you both had improved over such a short amount of time." She stopped and stood with her hand behind her back, surveying the wreckage around them. "Now you can both stand up to Camber without any trouble." Both youkai smiled at the compliments that issued forth from the old psychic. "Go get cleaned up. Dinner will be ready by the time you finish." Heads snapped up at the offer of food and the young ladies raced off. Genkai only laughed as they vanished, shaking her head with disbelief.

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Aka licked her bowl clean for the third time, feeling pleasantly full. Skyre was dwelling in the background, thinking over what had happened today and leaving the experience of food to Aka. Skyre in fact left a lot of things to Aka, as though she felt sorry for her. Aka did care about that, but she was realizing she did feel for Skyre.

Almost like we're sisters. She set the bowl on the table with a clink, her own mind become confused at the epiphany. She didn't understand emotions, nor family or friends. She had been born of blood and death. Happiness was still unnerving. Elation was out of the question. And if I have emotions and feelings for someone, what does that make me? The chance to dwell on such matters was quickly stolen from her as Genkai rose from her seat at the head of the table, clearing her throat to get everyone's attention.

"Listen up everyone. I know that these last few months have been hard, but in my opinion, we are ready to take on Camber and bring him down. I know that this was originally Skyre, Aka, and Ifurita's fight, but we have been pulling into this maelstrom and I for one want to see it end. We set out tomorrow morning so I suggest you all get some rest." With that, she took her own advice and left for bed, the Tantei following suite. Skyre fell right to sleep, letting Aka take care of things. The berserker was glad to be alone and have the chance to think, but she was confused as what to do. Deciding to worry about it in the morning, she showered and curled into a ball, letting sleep claim her.

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Guard walked back and forth in front of the main gate. Once the onslaught began, they wouldn't last long at all. And they didn't last at all as Ifurita's hailstorm shredded through them like an arrow through tissue paper. Alarms blared over the concrete buildings, but that didn't delay their advance in the least. Vines crushed, fire burned, ice flew, and blades slashed through the human defenses. Smoking rubble was left behind as the group of four demons moved farther and father into the compound. Saika's keen nose led the way to Camber, a trail of corpses to show the way back out.

The lowest basement was their ultimate goal, his life force pulsing brightly under the watchful gaze of Genkai, who had pinpointed his location with her own powers. It surprised Kurama and Hiei that there was no demon guards as they descended deeper and deeper in the complex.

"That is what his experiment is about. Controlling demons so they can do his dirty work. But most of them go insane and die before it can be finished," Aka supplied. "He talked a lot while working on us." A steel door proved to be a minor irritation in their quest, quickly blown apart thanks to Hiei.

"This is where we leave you. From here on, it's you two," Kurama instructed. "We have no part in this battle." He and Hiei moved to leave, following the corridor back to the surface.

"Wait!" They stopped and turned to look back at the young ladies. "Thanks." Kurama gave a smile and Hiei nodded as the smoke engulfed them. Saika and Ifurita nodded to each other and pressed on, finding empty passageways at every turn. It was then that the power failed, leaving them in total darkness. This had been expected and flashlights were flipped on to light the way. A second steel door gave the pause. Saika pressed one ear against it, concentrating on the sounds from the other side. One hand tapped it twice, the signal that humans were there. The ice youkai nodded and formed a ball of power in her hand, blasting the door to cinders.

"Anybody home? We've come to collect!"