Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Stone of Darkness ❯ Betrayer Revealed ( Chapter 4 )

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~~I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. Please review!!~~


Kurama groaned, eyes fluttering open. He was curled on his side with his arms hugging his chest. Something warm and soft was thrown over him. He raised his head and opened his eyes. He was in a dark cave that seemed strangely familiar. His eyes landed on Hiei sitting in the corner of the cave.
"I passed out?"
"Hn."
Kurama pulled the black cloak around him, shivering. He still felt as weak as he had before. What was going on?
"Your Youki is not recovering from the attack, Kurama."
"I can feel it. It's like it's been cut off."
"It has been cut off. You've been marked by the demon hunter."
"What do you mean?"
"When a demon hunter injures his prey he leaves behind a part of himself to keep his prey from escaping, healing, or fighting back."
"Well, how do I get rid of his mark?"
"He has to be killed. That is the only way."
"I can't fight him like this."
"I will," Hiei said.
"What?"
Hiei stood and slid his hands into his black pants. Kurama looked down at the cloak. How had he grown so weak? If Hiei hadn't come with him....
"I will kill him after we have the antidote."
"What if there is no antidote? What if he's been lying the whole time?"
"That's possible. Either way she will not die. I...give you my word, Kurama."
Kurama glanced around the cave again, taking in the cobweb covered rugs and scattered items. He could feel the plants outside the cave welcoming him.
"This is my lair. How did you find it?"
"Do you really have to ask? Your plants verified that this was your lair when they attacked me."
"They attacked you? I thought they were all destroyed during the fight."
"Well some of them obviously survived. They relaxed after they realized I was carrying you."
Kurama crawled across the floor and pushed one of the rugs to the side. He slammed his fist down on the ground. It cracked open revealing a hidden door. He pulled open the door and reached down, dragging out a large sack.
"Your treasures, Kurama?" Hiei asked, moving closer.
Kurama's tail wagged excitedly as Hiei knelt and began shuffling through the bag. Hiei smirked as he pulled out various treasures and studied them.
"You're lucky no one found this stuff."
"All of my treasures are hidden in my lairs. I've never been robbed."
"Demons still fear you."
"Not enough, it seems. Now they challenge me because I'm part human."
"You will have to show them that Youko Kurama, human or not, is a demon to fear. Use this fool as an example. Break them for challenging you. You will make them feel fear once more at the mere mention of Youko Kurama's name."
"What if I can't? I can't even feel my Youki anymore."
"Is that something Youko would say?" Hiei asked.
Kurama smiled grimly, golden eyes growing hard.
"No. I will make them fear me once more."
He pulled a fist-sized black jewel from the sack and held it out to Hiei. He stared at the jewel. The power emanating from the stone was unbelievable. So much power. How was it possible?
"The Jewel of Darkness."
"Where did you get it from, Kurama?"
"I stole it from another fox. He was trying to steal from me, so I had to repay the favor."
Hiei reached out to take the stone from Kurama but froze. Kurama watched him, golden eyes waiting. Hiei pressed the tips of his fingers to the stone.
Power had brought them together. He had sought to control the world. Kurama was weak enough now that he could easily kill the fox and take the stone. He could use the power to carry out his earlier plans. This time no one, not even Yusuke, would be able to stop him.
Hiei curled his hand into a fist and drew back, saying, "Better keep that close, fox."
Kurama smiled and said, "You are not capable of betrayal now, Hiei."
Hiei frowned, turning away. So, the fox was testing him?
"So you have the stone," came a voice from the cave entrance.
Kurama looked up and saw the demon hunter. His chest began to throb again. He winced, a hand going to where the wound had been.
"Hand it over," the demon hunter said, stepping into the gave.
"The antidote first," Hiei snapped.
The demon hunter smiled, his human form shifting into a five horned demon with black eyes and yellow skin. Hiei drew his sword.
"I don't have it. If you can defeat me, maybe he will reveal himself. If not, she'll die with you two."
The demon hunter vanished. Hiei snapped to the side, avoiding the claws seeking to rip out his heart. Kurama stood, watching the two fight. He couldn't just stand there! There had to be something he could do!
He reached up and drew a rose from his hair. Sharp green eyes focused on the crimson petals. Kurama concentrated. Youko had been in tight spots before. He had always found a way out.
"ROSEEEEE.....WHIP....!" Kurama called, swinging the rose. Pain shot through his head but the whip appeared.
He snapped out his wrist. Hiei leapt back as the whip curled around the demon hunter. Kurama jerked him off his feet and drug him across the ground. Vines shot out of the ground and curled around the struggling demon.
"Who sent you to kill me? Tell me now!" Kurama demanded.
Hiei sheathed his sword and moved towards the demon as he said, "You want to talk. Kurama broke your hold on him. What kind of power did that take? What could he do to you with that power?"
"I'm not afraid of you!" the demon roared.
Kurama pulled a seed from his hair and forced energy into. He dropped the seed beside the demon and watched the purple vine burst free of the shell.
"Do you know what this is? This vine can cut through flesh with just the barest of touches. Tell me who sent you to kill me, or I'll be forced to show you why people once feared Youko Kurama."
Suddenly the demon hunter screamed as a large plant burst through his chest. Kurama whirled as a presence made itself known at the back of the cave.
"You asked who sent him. I did."
Kurama stared at the silver fox that stepped out of the shadows. Gold eyes met his, hatred shining in the brilliant orbs. A long scar ran down the older fox's right cheek.
"Well, hello, Father," Kurama whispered.