Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Falling Apart ❯ One Step Closer ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

*Standard Disclaimers Apply*

Kurama had lost count of how many hours they had been traveling. It wouldn't have been so bad if he had known where they were heading, but, as it was, he could only follow Hiei. He felt cold unease settle over him, and it seemed to grow with every mile they traveled. He really wasn’t sure if he could split in two when the time came. The Youko in him rebelled against the thought, his human half nearly resisting just as much. The split would be permanent and irreversible.
And, Kurama almost knew for a fact, Youko would kill him and Hiei when torn from him. He just knew it. Youko without his human emotions would be a ruthless once more and deadly.
And what if Hiei was wrong? What if he lost his powers? Without his Youko half would he really still be half demon?
“Fox, you are thinking too hard,” Hiei said from beside him, jerking Kurama out of his dark thoughts.
“I don’t know if I can go through with this. I just don’t know,” Kurama whispered as Hiei came to a stop.
“You don’t have to. You could always wait a year or so.”
“Hiei, I don’t think that I’ll be able to change back after a year. I don’t think I will care to anymore. No, I have to do it. If I don’t I’ll forget who I really am.”
“Good, I’m glad you’ve made up your mind because we’re here.”
“What?”
Kurama glanced around, noticing their surroundings for the first time. All he saw was trees, but his mind felt that there was so much more hidden.
“Underground,” Hiei explained.
Kurama followed his gaze to a group of trees. Hiei moved forward and pushed against one. The ground dropped away forming a stairwell leading down into the darkness below.
“Who did this?” Kurama asked.
Hiei shrugged, looking down into the darkness, “I don’t know. No one knows. Are you ready?”
Without waiting for Kurama’s nod, Hiei started down the stairs. Kurama sighed and followed him. What was the point iN asking if you didn’t plan to wait for a response? Hiei had a lot to learn.
“Hiei, can you see?” Kurama asked, slightly awed by Hiei’s confident steps.
“Of course, fool.”
“I swear, if you call me a fool or idiot once more I’m not going to refrain myself from beating you senseless,” Kurama muttered.
“You’re beginning to sound like the Idiot.”
Kurama growled low in his throat and heard Hiei chuckle. Hiei was enjoying himself far too much, and Kurama was sure that he didn’t like it.
“I’m glad you enjoy tormenting me.”
“I have to have some pleasure, no?”
“Yes, but not at my expense!”
“Youko Kurama, you’re more sensitive than I ever gave you credit for.”
“Damn you.”
“Some would say that I am already damned,” Hiei said somewhat thoughtfully.
“Yes, well some people are true idiots, which is why you shouldn’t call me one!”
“Fox, you are amusing.”
Hiei stopped at the bottom of the stairs and glanced around. He slowly drew his sword.
“This is where the fun begins. I hope you’re ready. If not, we may both lose our lives down here.”
“You say that as if it would be interesting,” Kurama remarked as he pulled a rose from his hair.
“Death is always interesting, especially if you are the cause of it.”
“That’s a very morbid thought, and it’s kind of creepy. Don’t say that ever again, Hiei, because I can’t help but think that you would enjoy killing me at times like this.”
“Your death would be very interesting,” Hiei teased, laughing at Kurama.
“Funny,” Kurama murmured as he snapped out his rose whip.
“You said you made it to the end. What should I expect?”
“Monsters. Creatures. Demons.”
“Down here?”
“They have made a home in these tunnels.”
“Sounds fun.”
“Lead the way, Youko. I would like to see you fight, since you so rarely come out.”
“Well, that’s about to change. You may regret wishing to see Youko,” Kurama said, moving around Hiei.
“Maybe. If Youko tried to kill me, I’d have no choice but to return the favor. I will regret that, Kurama.”
“I think Youko will try to kill me first. He will probably resent me. It feels strange talking about myself like that. I am Youko. Or, I am a mixture of Youko.”
“Confusing yourself?”
Kurama sighed again as he started forward, moving further into the thickening darkness.
He was beginning to miss the silent, sarcastic Hiei of the past. At least that one only threatened him and rarely teased him.
A large blur sprang out of him. Kurama lashed out with his whip, jerking to the side as several creatures stormed in around them. He fought with a speed that Hiei had rarely seen. The Youko half of him was a skilled fighter who had had centuries to perfect his killing method.
Hiei finished off the four beasts that had tried to drag him to the ground and turned his full attention on Kurama. Kurama's strikes were precise and exact. He could see int he golden eyes every kill before the deadly whip ever made contact.
Kurama was right. Without his human aspact, Youko would be very dangerous and more ruthless than a band of trained assassins.
Kurama cleanly decapitated the five beasts moving in on him and turned to face Hiei.
“Well?” he prompted.
“Pretty good,’ Hiei replied.
Kurama grinned broadly and continued down the tunnel. Hiei stood still for a moment. Youko probably would try to kill them. He sighed. He hoped that he wouldn’t. Youko would make an interesting ally, he thought, starting forward.