Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Falling Apart ❯ Shattered ( Chapter 4 )

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

Kurama was turned to look for Hiei when his instincts started screaming that something was wrong. He knew he was in trouble the second the air shifted around him. And it was too late to save himself. He began to turn, in a vain effort to escape the falling rocks, and felt someone slam into him, throwing him backwards. All of this happened in a matter of seconds, leaving Kurama stunned as he tried to understand what had happened.
Kurama slowly opened his eyes and stared at the spot where he had been standing only seconds before. The rocks would have crushed him but.... He glanced to the side and found Hiei kneeling on the ground, eyes closed as he drew in sharp breaths. His hands were tightly clenched not fists.
"Hiei? Thanks."
Hiei opened his eyes and met Kurama's gaze. He was unbelievably pale. Kurama reached out and curled an arm around his friend's shoulders.
"You saved my life. Thank you. I owe you a life debt, my friend."
"Then be more careful with your life, Kurama. I can't believe you missed that trap."
Kurama felt his face burn. It was embarrassing. Youko Kurama had never missed a trap in all his years as a thief.
Hiei was on his feet in a split second and reached down to help Kurama stand. Kurama pressed a hand to his chest. That was just too close. He had faced death hundreds of times but he never could get used to it.
"We're close," Hiei said, glancing down the tunnel.
"I'm ready to get out of here."
Hiei nodded and brushed dirt and dust off his cloak before moving in front of Kurama. Kurama was more than happy to let Hiei lead, after all, Hiei had been inside the tunnel before and most likely remembered every traps location.
"Tell me something, Kurama. That first time you were forced into Youko Kurama's form, you different. Your voice was deeper, colder, and your fighting techniques were completely different. Later, when you shifted, Youko Kurama was a mixture of your human side and your demon side. Can you explain that?" Hiei asked.
"I...was more Youko when he was forced out. I hadn't shifted. I had regressed back to him. Actually, I remember feeling Youko's disgust at how weak I had become. I felt bitter that I had been tricked because of my human emotions that made me kind and caring."
Hiei glanced at Kurama and said, "I thought so."
Kurama stopped, seeing a sudden light in the area ahead of them. Hiei followed his gaze.
"This is close to where I was stopped."
Kurama moved around Hiei, creeping cautiously forward as expert eyes gazed over the tunnel. He could sense dozens of traps. No wonder Hiei had been forced back. He wasn't trained enough to deactivate all the traps.
"Where is the dagger?" Kurama asked.
Hiei stood beside him and pointed to an area hidden in shadows. Kurama stared into the darkness and was able to make out the dagger's outline. It was about ten feet from where they stood and the traps will scattered between it and them.
"I will try to get it without activating the traps. There's too many to destroy. I should be able to bypass them," Kurama said confidently.
"Don't get yourself killed, fox. Those traps are deadly. I barely made it out."
Kurama grinned cockily at Hiei before stepping forward. His grin slipped as he concentrated on avoiding the traps. He moved slowly, taking short steps as he studied the traps, locating each trigger and stepping around it.
He twisted his body around and side stepped to avoid a trigger. Kurama could see the dagger clearly now. It was gold with the hilt covered in black jewels. He glanced down at a sudden movement below him.
"Kurama!" Hiei yellowed, watching in horror as the floor beneath Kurama fell apart.
Kurama lunged forward, flipping to land beside the dagger. He released a heavy sigh of release as nothing happened. He hadn't had time to check for traps when he made his wild jump.
Kurama reached down and slowly lifted the dagger. He stared at the blade, noticing now the soft, purple glow emanating from it. He swallowed and glanced back at Hiei.
"Hiei, the power in this dagger is incredible."
"Quit admiring it, fox, and get back here!" Hiei snapped.
Kurama slowly shook his head. His hand tightened around the dagger. No, he could not take the dagger back with him. It was too powerful to be freed of its guards. If he planned to use it, he would have to us it now.
"Hiei, if I don't survive this, make sure that my mother knows how much I love her. Don't let her wonder about what happened to me. Let her know that I am dead," Kurama said, raising the dagger slightly.
"Kurama, don't use it yet! Come back first! I can help you then," Hiei reasoned.
Again, Kurama shook his head and pressed the blade to the lower skin of his left arm. He closed his eyes and made a long gash down his arm before setting the dagger back down on the ground. He opened his eyes and looked back at Hiei.
He didn't feel any different. His arm ached, but that was all. Kurama frowned, staring at the dagger. Could the stories about it have been just myths?
Hiei watched anxiously as Kurama remained kneeling on the ground. Nothing had happened. He released the breath he hadn't known he was holding.
It didn't matter. They could find another way to transform him back into a human.
Suddenly Kurama stiffened, crying out. Hiei whirled and found Kurama's face tight with pain.
"Kurama!"
Kurama clutched at his belly as he doubled over, leaning on the ground as his strength fled him. His body was on fire! It felt as if he were being torn apart!
~~That is what you wanted, is it not~~
Kurama's eyes widened at the soft voice whispering through his mind. Youko! He gasped as another wave of pain slammed into him
~~You wanted to be ripped free of me so you should be please that your goal has been accomplished.~~
Is that what's happening? Kurama thought, panic slicing through him
~~Yes.~~
Kurama screamed.