Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Shura's Quest - The forbidden Forest ❯ Scene 9B ( Chapter 10 )

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

Yes, evil, evil me.. I'm sowwy.. Can you please forgive me? Anywho..

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Scene 9b ------------------------------------------- The Battle Continues...

* Hiei ignores his aching body to raise his head and search for his kitanna, finds it, then lunges to gather it into his bleeding hand.


Kandero- If you.. destroy that sphere.. You'll kill your.. Father..


* Hiei curses and turns to glare toward them heaving.


Banashima- Don't.. worry about.. me.. Do as I told you.. for once in your.. life!


* Banashima uses a burst of his demonic strength to toss Kandero down and lands on him to pin him down. He glances up to meet Hiei's similar red eyes and nods when he sees the slight look of indecision on his son's face.


Banashima- Do it, son.


* Hiei looks toward the orb sitting innocently a few feet away. In a flash of a moment the koorime realizes how much he's changed when he can't bring himself to destroy the small, round object that holds not only Kandero's power, but is using his Father's life energy to contain that power. Hiei glares back toward the fighting demons and the jagan begins to pick up on its host's anger and confliction. Hiei feels his hair begin to lift as the third eye opens. It glows red as he rips off his head ward. The jagan's desire suddenly reminds the smaller fire demon of a technique that he hasn't used in three years. Hiei looks down as he raises his right hand. When he sees the smoke beginning to seep out from under the wards he knows that he has no other choice. The Dragon of the Darkness must be fed. He hears his father's screams begin to fade away as the power swirls around him more thickly as he unwraps the long ward. Then, for some unknown reason his Father's voice finally reaches his ears and mind.


Banashima- Do it now, Hiei!


* Hiei smirks as he looks toward the struggling demons again.


(#) Hiei- No, you listen to me this time, Father..


* Banashima senses what Hiei is about to do.


(#) Banashima- You won't be able to.. control it.. in your condition..

(#) Hiei- The Dragon demands blood.. It gets what it demands.. I made it that promise long ago.. Shove the b------ as far away from you when I tell you to..

Hiei- Dragon..

Banashima- Hiei, just.. destroy.. the d--- orb!!

Kandero- Face it.. Your son.. is as pathetic.. as you are!

Hiei- Of the Darkness..

Banashima- You're about to see how wrong you are..


* Hiei braces himself and sends the final mental command to Banashima.


(#) Hiei- Now!


* With a growl at Hiei's stubbornness, Banashima uses a burst of his waning energy to knock the evil mage several feet away from him. Hiei snaps his right hand out, palm up, toward the heaving, cursing demon.


Hiei- Flame!


* Too late, Kandero realizes what has been started. His cursing turns to screaming as he turns to attempt to dodge the powerful shadowed beast barreling toward him. The Dargon's shriek drowns out Hiei's own scream of pain as it explodes out of his arm, expelling all the energy that was pent up for those three peaceful years. Kandero has none of his power to use any kind of demonic speed so he simply resorts to weaving around trees to elude the Dragon's snapping jaws. Banashima raises up onto his hands and knees to watch this display that he'd only ever seen once before from a distance. Suddenly, Kandero gets the idea to run back toward them, just managing to avoid the Dragon's gaping jaws. The Black Dragon coils and raises up to turn and continue its pursuit. The elder fire demon stands, but sees that his son won't be able to dodge the threat that's now heading straight toward them. In desperation, Banashima turns to look around and his eyes land on the glowing orb that had been rolled still further away by all the expounded energy. Hiei is concentrating too fully on the encroaching beast to notice what his Father is doing. Banashima snatches up the orb then flashes over to intercept Kandero. Before the evil mage can dodge aside Banashima holds out his hand showing him the orb. The mage temporarily forgets all about the Dragon and makes a lunge to grab the orb. Once more, the two lock up in hand to hand combat. Hiei blinks as the force of the Dragon as it closes in pushes his small frame back against a large tree.


Hiei- Father, get out..!!


* Before he can even finish the warning, the Dragon's mouth opens to engulf both of the struggling mages. With a desperation of his own, Hiei uses a burst of his own speed to lunge toward Banashima. The impact causes the elder fire demon to lose control of the orb. Just as Kandero leaps to catch it Hiei and his Father skid across the forest floor. The Dragon, Kandero, and the orb smash into the large tree Hiei was pinned against just a few short seconds ago. It bursts into flames at the giant explosion of impact. Hiei keeps his body shielding his Father's as much as possible until the flames finally begin to dissipate, along with Kandero's screams of agony. When all is dark and quiet once more Hiei begins to stir. Then the silence is shattered by a loud crack. The jagan urges Hiei to use another burst of his energy and he manages to get them away just as the tree's burnt trunk topples to the ground with a mighty crash. Once more everything calms and fades to silence. Warily Hiei raises up to look around for more danger. On the ground, the fire demon flickers back to his true demon form. Hiei senses the change and looks down at the slightly shorter figure.


Hiei- Father, are you..?

Banashima- I.. need to.. rest, son..


* Hiei hears the weakness, but refuses to accept it.


Hiei- I told you, I have a name..


* Banashima raises a trembling hand to touch Hiei's chest.


Banashima- Hiei,.. you will.. go on..

Hiei- We both will.. We'll beat Shura..

Banashima- No, listen to me..


* Banashima coughs as his body weakens further. The orb is gone and he knows that his life force went with it. Hiei reaches down to lift him some so he can breathe better.


Hiei- Hn.. Fine, I'm listening,.. Father..

Banashima- Sh-Shura.. be-longs to.. Kurama.. The World.. belongs to.. you.. If you.. want it..


* Hiei's eyes widen a moment.


Hiei- What the h--- does that mean, Old Man?

Banashima- In time.. (cough) You will.. know..


* Banashima's eyes begin to close, but Hiei touches his chest.


Hiei- You're not doing this to me again!


* Banashima feels Hiei begin to feed him some energy, but he reaches up and pulls Hiei's hand away.


Banashima- It's.. time.. Let me.. go..

Hiei- No! I refuse to let you leave me here on my own again!

Banashima- I used.. everything I had.. to contain Kandero's.. power..

Hiei- I can give you..

Banashima- Hiei! (Cough) Stop! - Honor my last.. request,.. son.. Let me go..


* Hiei stares down into Banashima's dulling eyes.


Banashima- My.. fire.. longs to be.. free,.. also.


* Hiei begins to gather himself back behind his indifferent mask as he looks away.


Banashima- (Quietly) No, Hiei.. Don't go.. there.. You must keep.. the progress you've.. made..


* Hiei looks back down at Banashima sullenly. He gently lays the elder demon back down and stands. Banashima turns his head to watch Hiei back away instinctually. The koorime hears Banashima's final thought.


(#) Banashima- I am proud of you,.. Hiei.


* Hiei raises his left arm to shield his face when the full fire demon's form bursts into a raging fire that shoots up into the air like a comet. Hiei looks up to watch until the flame disappears. After a quiet moment his arm twitches as if to remind him of what needs to be done. He gingerly moves to gather up his kitanna, sheathes it, then seeks out the wards he'd discarded. He finds his long arm ward, but can't locate the one for his head. When Hiei returns to the patch of scorched earth where his Father passed on he notices something white fluttering back down to the ground. He hisses slightly when he reaches his sore right arm out to catch the new ward. Realizing what it is, the short, dark demon looks upward a moment puzzled, then sighs deeply, closes his eyes a moment, and ties the fresh cloth around his forehead over the jagan. In his quietness the battle begins to play through his thoughts as he begins to wonder if anything could have been done differently. Suddenly, though, he stiffens when his memory freezes on something Kandero had said at the beginning.


Hiei- When.. they.. were...?


* Hiei raises his eyes, snarls, then considers blurring toward the main city. As he turns another thought makes its way through his growing anger, 'Could this be what keeps pulling me back there?' Slowly rationality returns as Hiei blurs through the forest toward Gandera and he comes to a sudden stop in the top of a tall tree. 'I need to wait for the others.. I can't go back in there alone now..' Indeed, he can feel how depleted his energy is now. Using his jagan behind the ward, Hiei makes sure that the area is clear, then he settles down on the wide branch with his back against the trunk. He needs to rest, replenish, and heal physically.. and mentally.