Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Rock My World ❯ Enter The Soul Snatcher ( Chapter 20 )

Dc-chan: Goku wa kawaii!

Yusuke: You’ve been saying that all day, baka…

Dc-chan: Totemo kawaii ne? Well it’s true and I’m talking about the Son Goku from Saiyuki not DBZ. Oh! I drew some pictures too for my fics…maybe I’ll post them…

Yusuke: Post them to have people laugh at your stick figure drawings?

MCT: Nani? Only I’m aloud to insult Dc-chan!

Dc-chan: I feel so popular! ^-^

MCT and Yusuke: -__-

Disclaimer, never EVER will own so bleh.

(thoughts are now in italics!)

*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 20 of Rock My World

Enter The Soul Snatcher

-

“I still don’t trust you at all,” Kira said still feeling impartial to this whole thing as they walked deeper and deeper into the dark and seemingly desolate cave. Kurama had been lighting the way with these weird little lantern plants that Kira stumbled over from time to time. “Are you sure this is the right cave?”

-

Namiko nodded eagerly, “Of course ningen, if I wasn’t sure then I wouldn’t be as sure as I am.” It was annoying to repeat herself over and over to a girl like Kira who appeared to be in the mood to play twenty questions, but saying the same question each time she opened her mouth was irritating.

-

“Ano,” Kurama glanced back and forth between Kira and Namiko, he could see both girl’s tensions rising and impatience for one another quickly running out. “Both of you relax, you’ll get there soon enough. I’m sure.” I hope in the very least, those two are really going at it.

-

“Geez Kurama,” Yusuke snorted, “let them argue if they want to. I could use some entertainment-”

-

“Something tells me you just love getting beaten up,” Kira warned quietly out of the corner of her mouth, though her eyes were still fixated on Namiko. Why were they trusting her anyway? This was the demoness that had helped Rakura kill her after all and after that whole incident Kira had still not forgotten it or forgiven Namiko. She pulled anxiously on both her pigtails and made a face, “Why a cave?”

-

“Because,” Namiko started softly, “Otouson doesn’t want many wandering in here to steal his work. He’s quite protective of certain pieces and he’s relying on the short attention span that most youkai have to turn around and go home just after a few minutes of walking into this darkness.”

-

Kira arched an eyebrow curiously, “So your tousan is pretty well known then?” She carefully stepped over another lantern plant, feeling Yusuke’s and Kuwabara’s eyes on her. Without question waiting for her to trip so they could laugh out loud at her expense.

-

“Hai,” Namiko replied with a sharp tone, “very well known.”

-

The teenage girl wrinkled her nose as she lowered her eyebrow, “I guess that makes sense. If I was a celebrity or something I wouldn’t want people bothering me either, I can understand that I suppose.”

-

“You don’t want people bothering you regardless,” Kurama pointed out in an amusing voice. He chuckled as Kira gave him an extremely sour look, teasing her was indeed enjoyable. Mainly because she was so easy to work up.

-

However, Kira didn’t find it as amusing as he did and pouted, “Why do people confuse being rebellious to being anti-social? I hate that. You’re no better than all my teachers and peers Kurama.” Kira scolded him bitterly and then moving a few stride ahead of him and the others so she was directly behind Namiko.

-

“In her case it’s a little of both,” Yusuke sniggered into Kurama‘s ear.

-

Kira instantly turned around once he finished his sentence with hell fires burning in her eyes as she glared daggers at him, “Do you honestly want to die?” She lowered her head and her bangs overshadowed her eyes and she gritted her teeth menacingly.

-

Yusuke shook his head and gulped then hastily hid behind Kurama. He had learned to fear her impending wrath, as far as he knew by first hand, the force with which she hit him with could rival Keiko’s slap. Sometimes he wondered why he didn’t have more girls helping him. A few more girls like Keiko, Kira and even Shizuru would chew out all the youkai in Makai effortlessly. He could vividly imagine the girls running around this place bitch-smacking any wayward demon that confronted them. That’d certainly make his job easier.

-

Kira sighed and faced forward again, her poncho fluttering as she did so then she hid her arms within it while silently fuming. Kurama had been right, but she was too stubborn to admit it now. It hadn’t rained here and now she looked like some type of idiot walking around with the brightly colored poncho on. She hated being wrong especially when the matter concerned Kurama.

-

Then there was her problem with Yusuke…why was it that he never shut the hell up? Threatening him was getting old and she knew if she was pounding him he wouldn’t fight back very hard. She couldn’t even begin to fathom how he and Kuwabara became friends, but the though occurred to her that birds of a feather flock together. Oh well, they were both stupid and irritating sometimes, not that she minded them all the time. Sometimes they were fun to be around.

-

The dark cave seemed endless and Kira couldn’t stand conversing with herself in her head that much longer. The others were all thinking along the same lines, but it seemed to be a unanimous agreement that silence was to be used right now.

-

Suddenly the cave’s ground turned into a deep slope and everyone lost their balance and fell on their behind’s than slid all the way down despite the fact they had been using Kurama‘s lantern plants to see the path ahead of them. Kira let out a loud yelp of surprise along with Kuwabara and Yusuke. Kurama, Hiei and Namiko didn’t seem the least bit shocked as they all skidded down the steep stone.

-

“Nya!” Kira cried, immensely loathing what was happening, “I feel nauseous!” The sudden fast movement of shooting forward made her want to vomit, but she restrained herself by trying to cover her mouth and swallowing anything that came up her throat.

-

Kuwabara fell forward when the incline came to an immediate end and Yusuke and Kira landed right on top of him creating a mini dog pile while the three demons easily evaded the collision. The three teenager all felt lightheaded from the experience and their eyes were dazed.

-

“Is everyone okay?” Kurama asked taking note that how light it was down so deep in the cavern. There was no way for sunlight to get in here, yet there was a glow emitted of the walls so they could all see.

-

“I think so…” Kuwabara grunted before turning on the two teenagers on top of them, “but I’d appreciate if two certain people would move their asses off of me!- not that I mind Kira being there…it’s Yusuke that’s creeping me out-”

-

That comment was met with two punches, one from Yusuke and one from Kira. Both with a disgusted expression at the carrot top.

-

“You need to get some manners,” Kira scolded him while dusting herself off. “Hentai…”

-

“Hn. At least he wasn’t the one screaming like a stupid girl,” Hiei muttered breezily.

-

Kira flailed her arms around in the air, “I didn’t scream that loud!” She felt her blood rush to her checks is aggravation.

-

“Actually,” Kurama began, “you screamed quite loud.”

-

The girl blinked innocently, “No I didn’t.” She diverted her brown orbs away from all of their gazes shiftily.

-

“Let’s put it this way, on a scaled on one to ten on how loud you screamed you got an eleven.” Yusuke chimed putting his hands behind his head coolly with his eyelids drooping, giving him a very bored look. “I think you shattered my eardrum,” he teased, but his facial expression not changing.

-

“You listen here!” Kira declared shaking an angry fist at the gel haired punk, “Quit being an asshole! I get the frickin point, alright?” She folded her arms across her chest and glowered, “Why is everyone picking on me?”

-

“Because you’re always fun to piss off,” Yusuke added with a sly grin spreading across his face.

-

“Oh yeah?” She barked trying to think of a comeback on the spot, “Well you’re…you…”

-

“Hm? I’m a what?”

-

Kira’s brain didn’t seem to be working and she knew the time for a witty retort was way overdue, “Nya. You’re mean.” She stuck her tongue out at him as a last resort for defense.

-

“Ah, youngsters shouldn’t argue.”

-

Everybody froze when they heard the old, raspy voice come out of nowhere. Their eyes all darted around the cavern wildly to get a glimpse at whomever had spoken.

-

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to look down to see me.”

-

Slowly, everybody looked down and Kira nearly jumped onto Kurama and said in a panicking voice, “What the hell is that? Kill it! Kill it!” She latched onto Kurama’s arm and maneuvered him around so he was in front of her and she was behind him, he didn’t seem to have a problem with her using him as a shield for the time being. Nya! What a scary looking animal!

-

Standing on the ground in front of them only about two-and-a-half feet high was a crotchety old man. He had a wide face with long elf-like ears. He had a droopy white beard that dragged on the floor and thin silver hair that was gathered into a ponytail on his head. His eyes were closed and they could all see his toothy smile under his snout like nose. He wore tattered brown robes and in his left hand was a three foot oaken shaft with scriptures engraved on it and a shiny black stone placed on the top, the same black stone that made Kira’s Summoning Gem…

-

Namiko bowed politely to the short man, “Ohayou Toshihiro-sama.” She then straightened herself back up, “I haven’t seen you in a while otousan.”

-

Toshihiro smiled at his daughter, “It fills my heart with happiness to know my lovely girl is fine, but who are your guests?” He peered up at Kira and spied the necklace around her neck. He jumped up and pulled on the chain, yanking her onto her knees so she was down on eye level with him. He was looking over the smooth spherical stone in his wrinkled hands, “Hmm…this is one of my works. Made it specifically for the young one who had the ability to find the Sage Youkai.” Kira sweatdropped as he let go and began walking in circles around her, mumbling gibberish to himself. Finally he stopped and smiled gently, “I never thought the one to use the Summoning Gem would be a beautiful girl like yourself.” He winked with hint of perverseness in his implications.

-

“Kurama!” She said looking at the fox feeling like she was going to cry, “Why is he hitting on me?”

-

“That’s just the way otousan is,” Namiko whispered to her, “he usually doesn’t mean anything by it…”

-

“Usually?” She let out a long groan and hunched her shoulders over. This youkai family has serious issues they need to short out. Compared to them, my kaasan and I are a normal functioning family.

-

Toshihiro smirked and inched closer to Kira with a smug smirk plastered onto his face and suggestive eyes. He then said in a low purr, “My, my…frisky are we?”

-

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Kira demanded thrashing him repeatedly over the head with her fist. “Why can’t you be a sweet old man who wants to bore us with stupid and extremely pointless stories of his youth? Nya!”

-

“No need to be shy,” he coaxed through a bloody nose. (A/N: In Japan, there is this thing or belief that when a man becomes aroused he had a bloody nose…so yeah. I thought it was weird too, but when you’re reading manga or watching anime you can notice it.)

-

“Leave me alone!” She growled meekly while trying to create as much distance between the perverted old man and herself.

-

Namiko coughed into her hand to get everyone’s attention, “Otouson, she isn’t here to…you know. She’s here for the diary and for you to share some of your wisdom with us.”

-

Kira had her foot on the little old man’s face to keep him away from her with a stress mark throbbing on her temple as he was desperately trying to get closer to her.

-

“You’re a sick and gross old man Toshihiro-sama,” Kira snarled as she removed her foot and stepped out of the way causing him to run into the cave wall and bounce right back off of it.

-

“Onegai,” he said blushing with sparkles in his eyes, “call me Toshi-koi! It would sound so sweet coming from your lips!”

-

“Dream on, hentai!” Kira spat heatedly as blushed crossly, “Namiko, do something about him!” She had her eyes narrowed and clenched fists at her sides while she was trying to figure out how to get rid of the pest that was Toshihiro. She thought he was going to be an honorable old man with wisdom. Kira had gotten one out of three right of her predictions…he was an old man.

-

Namiko casually kicked her father, sending him sprawling on across the floor, “Quit kidding around, you’re acting disgraceful.”

-

Yusuke shot Namiko a doubtful look, “And the way you act isn’t?”

-

The demoness bit her bottom lip, “Damare…baka tantei…”

-

The old man pouted at his daughter’s cynicism at his personality, but seemed to disregard the comment as a compliment, “Somebody in this family has to be interesting, I suppose.”

-

Kurama bent over to the old man and said respectfully, “Toshihiro-sama, we are in a hurry if you don’t mind-”

-

“Yea!” Kira cut him off curtly, “We kind of have a deadline to get these things…I mean we only have two more weeks on the Sage Youkai thingy before their youki is unleashed.” Not that she knew what would happen when they were able to use their maximum power, but Koenma made it sound dreadful and so was too lazy to fix such a mess with the others. “And I need the diary because Kokuei is stalking me….” she really wanted to leave that sordid detail out, but she needed that diary.

-

“He is, is he?” Toshihiro seemed amused by that, “No surprise, you resemble Kokoro quite well except she was a beauty beyond compare and you’re just a cute teenage girl who’s a little on the short side.”

-

“Who ya’ calling short?” Kira huffed biting the inside of check. “I’m two inches taller than Hiei for your information!” She felt Hiei glaring at her back and sweatdropped, “Ano…it’s true Hiei-chan…”

-

Kurama had to literally hold Hiei back from strangling the life out of Kira and boy did the fire demon struggle against his hold to free himself. Kurama urged quietly, “Calm down, she doesn’t mean anything by it.” Though even you have to admit…it is true. Calling you Hiei-chan might’ve been a step too far for her though. After all, in your eyes you just see her as a baka ningen who teases you.

-

Toshihiro nodded his head a bit, “I don’t have a problem with giving you the diary, demo…only she is allowed to come with me.”

-

It was Kurama’s turn to freak out, “Why is that?”

-

“It’s my workplace and this is my home so you should respect my wishes.”

-

Tears were already forming in Kira’s eyes, “Nya! I don’t want to be with him alone!” She sniffed loudly and sank to the floor, trembling. Why do I have to be left alone with this uber hentai? It isn’t fair! She knew she was making a scene in front of everyone, but she was at risk for being scarred for life by this creepy old man!

-

“I’ll go with her,” Kurama volunteered after Hiei simmered down. He stepped forward and shook Kira’s shoulder gently, “If that’s okay with you and Toshihiro-sama, that is.” He didn’t want Toshihiro doing anything to her, he knew Kira only acted like this to protest something that she absolutely didn’t want to do. But there was no doubt in his mind that’d she be fine on her own either way, if he did try anything with her…Toshihiro would be dead before he hit the floor.

-

Kira looked up at him and into his soft emerald eyes that had flecks of light scattered in them then wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. She got up slowly, “That be would be better. Kami-sama knows what he’d try with me on my own.” She gave Toshihiro a dark stare, as if threatening him to say it was okay that Kurama could come with her.

-

Toshihiro waved his staff wildly around in the air, “Fine, he can come!-but no one else!” He turned so his profile faced the teenagers and beckoned the two to follow his lead, “Hurry now.”

-

“Huzzah!” Kira shouted, perking up and grabbing Kurama’s arm and forcefully made him follow Toshihiro along with her. She then glanced over her shoulder at the others, “We’ll be back soon!”

-

“I feel so deserted…” Kuwabara sniveled as he watched Kira, Kurama and Toshihiro disappear into the darkness of the cave ahead of them. She seems so happy…

-

“Those two should get a room,” Yusuke rolled his brown eyes before leaning against the cool cave wall.

*~*

“Sugoi…” Kira said breathlessly as she walked into Toshihiro’s workroom. She squinted her eyes, but they soon adjusted to the brightness in the room. She eyed shiny metals of different colors laying in a heap at the far end of the room, winking at them in the light. Next to it was a pile of assorted stones and she recognized one stone to be the same on the old man’s staff and her necklace. There was a small workbench in one corner that was darkly polished and the floor of the room was covered in papers with nonsensical scribbles upon them, that were actually Toshihiro’s plans for more of his crafts.

-

Kurama was scanning over everything carefully. Impressive…very impressive. This old man was obviously brilliant despite the fact he was a total pervert.

-

“So what to you youngsters think?” Toshihiro asked prideful.

-

“It’s amazing…” Kira gawked, “you’re not just a baka hentai after all, Toshihiro-sama!”

-

Toshihiro stopped in front of them, his hands behind his back gripping his staff tightly, “Demo, before we go any further into my humble place, you must take a test.” His smile flipped into a slight frown and the wrinkles on his face stood out more than before.

-

“Nya? A test? I haven’t been to school in ages!” Kira complained restlessly. “I don’t know anything…is it an algebra test? Why a test? I haven’t studied either, Toshihiro-sama!”

-

“It’s not that kind of test,” he assured in a cool and low voice, “it’s a test of your power.”

-

Kurama raised an eyebrow, “Doushite?” He too was scowling and he moved protectively in front of Kira disliking what type of test it was. She was going to be at major risk in spite of all she could do. Her inexperience in these dealings with demons were noticeable and she was prone to making another life costing mistake.

-

“Kitsune,” Kira hissed, “I can handle this test.”

-

“I’m not too sure you can,” Kurama stated glaring at Toshihiro, wondering what the old man could have possibly planned for the two of them. He then remembered how Toshihiro wanted Kira to come alone with him, this test was meant for Kira then. Then why did he let me come along so easily?

-

A huge tiger like creature came thundering in from the way they had entered Toshihiro’s workroom and jumped to the old man’s side. It was at least twice of size of a normal tiger and it’s fur was jet black with white jagged stripes that resembled lightning. The beast had huge black demonic and gargoyle-like wings with a thirty foot wind span that had pulsating purple veins and sharp edges. It had midnight blue eyes with silver flicks in them and its paws had unusually long claws that appeared particularly acute.

-

Toshihiro patted the beast’s side affectionately, “This little darling is Neko, one of my first alchemic creations with alchemy. She’s one of my more special creations, you could say.” He then paused to wink, “she’s a Soul Snatcher, so watch out or you’ll be reduced to an emotionless puppet to do my biddings.”

-

Kira’s body froze and a trickle of sweat ran own the left side of her face, “I hate…cats…Kurama this is all yours! Go got ‘em tiger…uh, kitsune.” She propelled him forward with a rough push, “Neko’s probably a relative of yours, right? Just so you know, I completely trust your ability to succeed! Ganbatte!”

-

Kurama blinked then sweatdropped at her, “Cats and foxes are two different things entirely…”

-

Kira brushed his criticism off like it was nothing, “See? You’re smarter than me so you’re the better candidate to fight that…that thing!”

-

Toshihiro tilted his head to one side, “It isn’t that simple, this beast devours souls within an one hour time frame and it can snatch souls from up to two hundred meters away. Best to stay out of it’s way if you want to be in one piece when you leave me.”

-

“At first I thought you’d be a wise old man, but you turned out to be a hentai who’s evil now!” Kira flinched when Neko growled at what she said, but it took Kira everything she had not to runaway. God, she hated cats and making them ten times bigger than a cat was supposed to be was making her stupid fear even worse.

-

“I’m not evil,” Toshihiro muttered abashed by her, “this is a test just in case you weren’t listening.” He patted Neko’s side once more, “Onegai, shut that girl up for the time being.”

-

Neko’s eyes began glowing and it took a few steps forward, it’s teeth bared to reveal large white fangs. Kira fell to her knees suddenly, clutching her throat as she felt it become harder to breath. It was like she was suffocating on something while something else was trying to come out of her. She felt like her inside’s were on fire and she shut her eyes closed as she felt something get ripped out of her. A light blue mist hovered over her body for a few seconds and her eyes snapped open, and turned a pure white before halfway closing and her body fell over, limp. The mist then rushed towards Neko, who had her mouth opened and she swallowed it in one gulp.

-

Kurama knelt next to he body and turned her over onto her back, he felt her wrist. There was still a pulse, but it was slow and her eyelids were quivering. “Her soul…”

-

“Is within Neko’s belly now, along with the others that were with you,” Toshihiro explained, “I couldn’t very well have them interfering with our affair, could I?” He then pulled a small metal clock out of his tattered clothes, “You have one hour to save them all before their souls are lost forever.”

-

Kurama’s eye twitched, “You knew I was going to come along with her no matter what you said, didn’t you?”

-

Toshihiro chuckled darkly, “You’re thinking too much, I was originally planning for Kira to save all your lives, but this will be more fun for Neko and a much better challenge.” Neko purred when Toshihiro praised her. “One hour Kurama, do you think you can handle it?”

-

The fox stood up gradually, his emerald eyes holding nothing in them but anger, “You will regret doing this. Your precious pet will be torn to bits, I swear it.” His muscles were tense and his temper was soaring. Even if it was a test to see how powerful he was, Toshihiro wasn’t going to get away with playing with his friend’s souls.

*~*~*~*~*

Dc-chan: Nya! That’s Kira’s new word, not that she really had one before…

Next chapter: Transformations (but that title gives too much away, doesn’t it?)

Translation:

Ganbatte- good luck

FINALLY updated it.

LOVE AND PEACE!

ROCK ON!