Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Demon Dancers and PuppetMasters ❯ Chapter Seven ( Chapter 7 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

-Demon Dancers and PuppetMasters- by Nemesis Q. Ravens

Chapter Seven

Nemesis waited for the Uremeshi team to arrive. The mismatched group waited in the middle of a wooded park on the opposite side of Tokyo from where the abandoned hotel stood. Behind her stood the infamous PuppetMaster with three quivering women in chains at his scorched feet. Damn him, thought Nemesis angrily. Damn Damien and his fucking ‘schemes’! She loathed the fact that she had to do it, but he’d made it clear that PuppetMaster had to be there. ‘To keep the Uremeshi Team from stealing our leverage’, my ass.

The three girls had fought valiantly when the chains had been brought out, Nemesis remembered with a smirk, but they had stilled the moment they heard that they were going to see Team Uremeshi. Damien conveniently “forgot” to mention that they were only to be used as leverage. As of right now they waited anxiously for the appearance of their heroes.

It was nearing sunset and they still hadn’t arrived. Nemesis knew however, that they would show. These girls were far too important to the boys.

PuppetMaster stepped up beside Nemesis and watched the empty trees before them. It gently reached out and placed a charred hand on Nemesis’ shoulder. She merely patted the flaking hand and glanced up into the fiery eyes with a soft smile, although the three female couldn’t see it.

The girls behind shivered when PuppetMaster moved. The demon soul was terribly frightening and each girl couldn’t imagine the sensation Nemesis was experiencing being touched by that thing.

Then as the sun disappeared beneath the horizon, Team Uremeshi entered the clearing. The three women sat up straighter and made to stand but PuppetMaster snapped the chains, hitting their wrists. Keiko and Botan alike hissed through their teeth to keep from yelling. Nemesis watched emotionlessly as the boys stepped forward to go to the girls’ aid.

“Stop right there,” she hissed. The four boys halted knowing that the young women’s well-fare depended on their behavior. Janie had made it perfectly clear that PuppetMaster and Nemesis would not be merciful to the three chained before them.

“What do you want now?” asked Yusuke staring angrily at Nemesis and the demon soul she controlled.

“I have been given instructions to relay the news of the change concerning the return of these women,” Nemesis stated, gesturing to the girls behind her.

“And what changes are those, wench?” snarled Hiei.

PuppetMaster, not liking the midget’s choice of words, menacingly pulled Yukina, the closest, towards himself. The young girl began to whimper in fear. Team Uremeshi watched horror-stricken as tears began to fall steadily from Yukina’s eyes as PuppetMaster slowly dragged a claw along her cheek. Kuwabara was held back from charging by Kurama and Yusuke. Yukina’s arm, under so much pressure, neared the point of snapping. Hiei stood rooted to the spot. He could not move to aid in fear of revealing the blood tie between Yukina and himself. Nemesis gazed dispassionately at the sight for a moment before she spoke.

“That’s enough, PuppetMaster. Release her. We have not the time for idle torture.”

The demon soul immediately let the girl fall back where she was instantly comforted and treated as best as they could by Keiko and Botan. Nemesis turned then her back on the sight and again faced Team Uremeshi.

“From now on curb your tongues. PuppetMaster does not take it kindly when I am spoken of in such a foul manner,” said Nemesis softly. When the boys made no further comments, the Demon Dancer continued. “My leader Damien Kyrios, has instructed me to inform you, Team Uremeshi, that the requirements to receive your loved ones has been changed. Instead of them being delivered at different times separately, they shall be returned all at once.”

“Yes!” yelled Kuwabara as he punched the air enthusiastically and the girls gasped in surprise.

Nemesis narrowed her eyes. “What have I told you about interrupting me, you fool?” Kazuma instantly stopped his pathetic dance of victory at her words. She nodded. “That’s better. Now,” she continued. “The only way to have them returned to you alive is to defeat Team Kyrios. Not before the battle, but after, and only after you have rightfully won the title of Dark Tournament Champions.”

The four boys stared at her, not speaking. They couldn’t think of anything to say. All they knew was that they felt betrayed, tricked, and utterly helpless to save the three girls before them. So close and yet so far. Then Janie stepped up from behind them where she had waited in the shadows, hidden from view.

“You bitch,” she hissed. “You and your fucking lover are worthless pieces of dog shit.” Behind Nemesis, PuppetMaster stirred but she waved him back. “What makes you think that we’re going to agree to this?”

Nemesis’ eyes had briefly widened in surprise at seeing Janie. This was certainly unexpected, she thought. Luckily her deep hood hid her face from view. After the initial shock wore off, her deep blue eyes narrowed. “Janie. How pleasant to meet you here.”

The newest member of Team Uremeshi ignored her statement and repeated her question.

Nemesis decided to play with her a little. “What? You aren’t happy to see me? You should be. I have her a quick death.”

The Demon Dancer smiled evilly as Janie clenched her jaw angrily. She knew that she had effectively gotten beneath the woman’s skin. However when Janie spoke again, Nemesis frowned.

“We won’t agree to these changes.” The boys she stood among nodded to her statement. Obviously Nemesis would have to prove herself yet again to them that she meant business.

“Very well,” she shrugged. Team Uremeshi’s jaws dropped.

“You’re okay with that?” asked Kurama.

“Of course. That is if you’re okay with it.”

“Are you dumb or something? We are so okay with it!” Yusuke declared.

Nemesis smiled within the shadows of her hood. “Then I assume you’re okay with the consequences of you not agreeing to the new terms?”

All four boys slowly lost the smiles on their faces and Janie narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Consequences?” asked Yusuke, dreading the answer.

“Yes. The consequences. Here,” she said as she turned to face the now trembling girls. “Allow me to demonstrate exactly what I mean.”

Team Uremeshi found themselves rooted to the spot as the infamous Demon Dancer slowly walked to stop before the trio of girls.

Janie, trying to forestall what was to occur, stepped closer to where Nemesis and screamed, “You’re evil, you know that? Evil!”

Nemesis glanced behind. “Yes, I know.”

Janie kept yelling obscenities at Nemesis who was currently ignoring them. PuppetMaster clenched its hands tightly in fury and molten liquid dripped to the ground, burning soil away as its sharp claws pierced the blackened flesh. It’s blood was much like a highly corrosive acid.

“Botan, if you’d so kindly step forward.”

The said hostage slowly stepped to where Nemesis had gestured. To Nemesis’ right stood PuppetMaster, blocking any chance of an interference from the Spirit Detectives. Botan shook uncontrollably as the lover of Damien Kyrios gazed at her from the depths of shadow. There was no telling what was about to occur.

“You are the Grim Reaper, are you not?” Nemesis asked. Botan nodded hesitantly. “I thought as much.”

“Leave her alone!” screamed Janie. The green emeralds that where the woman’s eyes watered as she watched one of her few friends being analyzed by the only woman Janie had ever come to fear.

The Demon Dancer disregarded the woman’s outburst and slowly sauntered to Botan. “Then your punishment shall only be fair.” Botan began to shake even harder as fear gripped her in an iron fist. Nemesis slowly reached forward, grabbed Botan’s arm, exposed the veins and, with the aid of a dagger pulled from a sheath on her left forearm, slowly cut across her wrist.

“You know,” Nemesis said in an almost conversational tone. “There is a saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul. But the blood is the door.”

“Please… no,” Botan whispered as she began to think off all the possibilities in store for her.

Botan’s blood seeped up through the razor thin cut and slowly dripped down her arm to fall the ground. The sight of the red liquid enraged the Uremeshi team and they charged forward but a fiery chain whipped through the air in front of them, halting the Spirit Detectives’ assault. Nemesis ran a finger through the forsaken elixir. The Grim Reaper fell to her knees in fear. She knew exactly what Nemesis had in store for her and she was terrified.

Damien watched his lover teach Team Uremeshi a lesson. He smiled proudly. Her ingenious punishment made him feel pleased that she had learned from the best. Not only was she hurting the girl physically, but she was harming her mental and spiritual health.

Stealer of Souls, she had been called by some. Fitting name. Damien’s love was slowly pulled at Botan’s very soul. He couldn’t imagine what the woman must be going through. Very few people ever survived such anguish with a sane mind, if they survived at all.

“That’s my girl,” he whispered. “That’s my girl.”

Team Uremeshi saw Botan fall to her knees. Whatever the Demon Dancer was doing to their friend was bad. Each of their hearts went out to Botan, willing her strength to withstand the pain as she opened her mouth in a silent scream of agony. Her body language showed only pain. What was happening to her?

Nemesis stepped back from Botan and stared down at the writhing body. The Grim Reaper was clawing at the soil as if it were the pain. They couldn’t see her face.

Yusuke, unable to continue witnessing his friend’s torture, ran closer to where Botan thrashed in pain, stopping just before PuppetMaster’s chain could hit him. “Stop!” he yelled. “We’ll agree. Just stop it. You’re killing her!”

Nemesis looked away from Botan and to the Spirit Detective. “On the contrary,” she said. “Botan is the Grim Reaper. She is the one who gathers the souls of the dead.”

“Yeah, so?” said Yusuke.

Nemesis didn’t reply at first. She knelt beside Botan and rolled the woman onto her back. Everyone there could see the tears that poured down her cheeks and her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Her eyes bulged and blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

“There is no one to gather her soul. She will not die.” Nemesis paused and slowly smiled. “That is unless I wish to play the Grim Reaper myself.”

“Don’t even think it,” warned Hiei, gripping the hilt of his katana tightly.

She smiled at them all. “Don’t worry. I have no use for her pathetic soul.” They all breathed a sigh of relief until Nemesis continued. “Now, as much as I enjoy the quality time together, seeing as you boys have agreed to the new terms, I’ve got to get these darlings back.”

Then, before anyone could move to stop them, PuppetMaster grabbed the trio of girls and disappeared within a portal. Nemesis did not enter it. She paused in front of the portal and looked back at the Uremeshi team.

“Here,” she said and tossed a shimmering gem at them. Hiei caught it and instantly recognized it as one of Yukina’s tear gems. “Maybe it’ll bring you some luck. You’re going to need it.”

Hiei tightened his hand around the jewel and shot a withering glare in Nemesis’ direction. His other hand grasped the katana at his side in a death hold as he prepared to lunge forward at the Demon Dancer. However, Janie beat him to it.

Janie jumped at her with her own blade drawn, the last rays of sunlight reflecting off the shining blade. Her strawberry blonde hair fluttered as she descended upon her sworn enemy; the woman who killed her daughter.

“I’ll kill you, you bitch!” she screamed as she sliced at her from the side.

Nemesis snatched another blade from somewhere on her person and halted the sword’s path. The sword was deflected away from Nemesis’ bared flesh. The Demon Dancer then spun and kicked Janie with a roundhouse kick to the head, sending her attacker flying down to the ground. Janie hit the hard packed earth with a grunt of pain.

The newest member of Team Uremeshi quickly rolled to the side as Nemesis dropped to her knees, ready to shove the dagger deep within Janie’s stomach. The two women leapt to their feet and faced one another again; Janie in a defensive stance and Nemesis waiting with cool disdain of this whole thing. Then the green-eyed woman threw herself forward. The Demon Dancer stood unmoving until the last moment.

She stepped to the side and raised her knee. Nemesis connected it to Janie’s unguarded abdomen. The breath was forced out her chest and then cut off as her adversary snatched her form out of the air by wrapping an arm around her throat. They both fell to their knees; Janie gasping for air and Nemesis clutching the blonde’s neck, denying Janie of oxygen.

Janie, desperate to breath, elbowed the woman behind her viciously, momentarily stunning Nemesis. Behind them, the Spirit Detectives cheered Janie on.

“Morons,” muttered Nemesis as she turned right back to where the woman sucked in air frantically. The Demon Dancer quickly pounced on the kneeling woman, shoving her onto her back. Janie struggled to turn and hit Nemesis but the woman knelt on her arms, restricting her from doing so. The Spirit Detectives rushed forward to Janie’s aid.

Nemesis, seeing as her time was rapidly disappearing, slashed Janie across her face. There was a miniscule splattering of blood, but the Demon Dancer got what she wished; a handful of those red beads of blood.

Just as the Uremeshi team was close enough to strike at Nemesis, she dived to the left and flipped up onto her feet. Behind her, Kurama’s Rose Whip snapped at her ankles, barely missing her. The Demon Dancer took off running into the shadows, leaving Yusuke vainly shooting his Spirit Gun.

Back with the “good guys”, Janie removed the hand she’d clutched her marred face with. The pale palm was stained with red. Blood.

“Fuck,” she whispered into the night as she gazed at the shadows that had effectively hidden her enemy from her.