Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Stone of Darkness ❯ Face Off ( Chapter 5 )

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Father? Hiei glanced at Kurama. Kurama was watching the other fox with wary eyes. Had Kurama really addressed the older fox as 'Father'?

"So you're the one who tried to have me killed. Why? Wasn't it enough to kill my mother and siblings?" Kurama asked, his soft voice laced with hatred and disgust.

"You should not have escaped, Kurama. You weren't meant to live. Did you think I would just fade away? After this?" the other fox demanded, gesturing to the scar on the side of his face.

"You were trying to kill me! I had to fight back," Kurama retorted.

"Kurama, is that really your father?" Hiei asked, stunned by what he was hearing.

"Yes, Hiei, he is. Rumbrigan used to be one of the most feared thieves in the world. He was notorious for taking what he wanted and throwing out what he grew tired of. He didn't want a family, and so when he discovered that my mother had given birth to four children he returned and killed her and my brothers and sisters. I would have died too, but I had inherited the power to manipulate plants, so I was able to fight him off. I was only three years old," Kurama explained.

Hiei's eyes narrowed. His people had thrown him off a cliff in hopes of killing the Forbidden Child, but they hadn't be ruthless enough to slaughter him as Rumbrigan had slaughtered Kurama's family. His hands clenched into fists.

"You tell the story so well, Kurama," Rumbrigan sneered.

"Wait until I write the ending. You'll be really surprised then," Kurama shot back.

"You really think you can kill me? You are a weakling. I will crush you."

"You couldn't kill me all those years ago, and I was just a child back then! I have improved my powers a great deal," Kurama said, snatching up his rose whip.

Rumbrigan held out his hand. Kurama lunged to the side as sharp vines ripped from the ground behind him and reached for him. He swung his whip at Rumbrigan only to have him block with a grass sword. Rumbrigan caught the whip in his hand and jerked Kurama forward, nearly off his feet.

Kurama released the whip and snatched a seed from his hair. He launched it at his father as he leapt back to avoid the swinging grass sword. The seed exploded, and a large purple plant shot forward, blooming into a massive demon eater. Rumbrigan cried out as the searching mouth found his wrist. He slammed the sword down on the plant and whirled to block a blow from Kurama's whip.

Hiei blinked, standing back to watch the fight. Kurama was fighting stronger than he had ever fought before yet he still seemed to be the weaker of the two. Rumbrigan slammed his fist into Kurama's face as vines wrapped around Kurama's legs, trapping him in place.

Kurama fell back to avoid another blow as he grew a grass blade in his hand. Rumbrigan swung down at him, but Kurama countered with his blade. They struggled, each trying to overcome the other, as Kurama lay on the ground unable to free himself from the vines. The swords tilted towards Kurama's throat even as he put all his strength into forcing them back.

"Kurama, down!" Hiei called and fired a blast of dark energy at the fighters, hoping that Kurama had obeyed his warning.

Kurama flattened himself against the ground and the black flames slammed into Rumbrigan, throwing him off his feet, away from Kurama. Kurama sat up and quickly cut away the vines binding him to the ground. He was on his feet in seconds as Rumbrigan began to sit up.

"Your little friend will pay for that, Kurama," he vowed, coming to his feet.

"If you think you can make me pay feel free to try. I won't make you suffer for long," Hiei sneered, crossing his arms over his chest.

Rumbrigan glared at him as he retrieved his grass sword from the ground. He laughed suddenly, head going back. Kurama braced himself, not knowing what to make of this change.

"You fools. You can't kill me even if you were strong enough. I am the only one who can cure Kurama's precious mother. I am the only one who can create the antidote. You don't want to be responsible for both of your mothers' deaths, do you Kurama?" Rumbrigan asked.

Kurama paled, eyes widening. How could he have forgotten? He had let his anger take hold of him. He couldn't kill Rumbrigan no matter how much he wanted to."

"Give me the antidote, Rumbrigan, and I will end your miserable life quickly," Kurama ground out through clenched teeth.

"I don't think so. Give me the Jewel of Darkness."

"I don't think so," Hiei said, hand curling around the large jewel.

Kurama glanced at him, a little worried but trust shining in his eyes. Hiei nodded to him as he brought the tone into view. Rumbrigan stared at him, golden eyes locked on the jewel in his hand.

"You want this jewel so badly. Well, I don't think anyone should have it," with that said Hiei slammed energy into the fragile jewel and shattered it.

Rumbrigan cried out, horrified. Hiei opened his hand and allowed the broken shards to fall to the ground. Kurama stared at the shards. What was Hiei planning?

"Now, you see, there is no choice for you. Give us the antidote, or I'll send you to a place of endless torture," Hiei promised, uncovering his jagan.

"You think to intimidate me. I am Rumbrigan, master of all demons. Your fake eye can't harm me."

"You should not have said that," Kurama murmured. He smiled humorously at his father and added, "The last man who said that was destroyed. There weren't even ashes left after Hiei finished with him."

Rumbrigan grabbed for a seed but suddenly found himself unable to glance away from the glowing eye. Hiei moved forward, catching hold of Rumbrigan's mind. Kurama stepped to the side to allow Hiei passage.

"Where is the antidote?" Hiei demanded.

Rumbrigan's eyes stared blankly and replied, "There is no antidote."

Kurama growled furiously, but Hiei ignored him as he asked, "What was in that poison?"

Rumbrigan listed several poisonous plants and herbs and fell silent once more.

Hiei glanced at Kurama and asked, "Do you think you could create an antidote now that you know what the poison is made of?"

"I can try."

Hiei turned his attention back to Rumbrigan, the jagan glowing a brighter purple as he said, "Now for you. You dared to insult me. I promised to break you, and I will carry it out."

Kurama turned away as Rumbrigan's tortured screams filled the cave. He felt Rumbrigan's life force drain away until nothing was left. He glanced back at Hiei and saw that Rumbrigan had vanished and that Hiei was covering his jagan with the ward.

"We are running out of time. The longer the poison runs through your mother's veins the less likely it is that you can heal her," Hiei said, looking up at Kurama.

"Then we'd best find the plants needed for the antidote," Kurama replied and then was gone.