Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Worthless Humans ❯ A Slow Downfall ( Chapter 23 )

 

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Nari stayed behind Kuronue, too fearful to come out knowing she herself would be punished for what had happened because everyone felt she was poisoning the bat demon's mind. Embracing the blanket that was around her naked form, Nari couldn't help but step a bit back knowing this battle could engulf her if she wasn't careful.

 

Yoko Kurama pulled another seed from his hair to drop upon the ground before them to have five deadly Droseras sprout from the ground in no time at all. The carnivorous plants had at least five green tentacles that would trap Kuronue and digest him once they managed to embrace and capture him within the center of the plant.

 

Kuronue got out his scythes that he used in battle, keeping his ground even though it was hard to face down his old friend for the want of their own slave. “Nari,” Kuronue whispered over his shoulder slightly, “I want you to stay back and be careful. These plants Yoko Kurama controls could possibly even kill you if need be. So if you want to die, then this battle may be something to help you to Koenma's door.”

 

Nari wanted her death to come after the hell she put up with down in Makai but something stopped her from going forward to just accept it. Maybe it was the fact she had someone to live for—if not Kuronue, it was Okuro. “I promise,” she eventually whispered, staying where she was on the narrow part of the cliff.

 

“Kuronue,” Yoko Kurama sighed, keeping his plants at bay for the moment though they were eager to take in another demon, “are you ready? I don't want this to be unfair fight.”

 

“I am more than ready, Yoko Kurama,” Kuronue promised, keeping his scythe where it was resting beside him.

 

“How about we make a deal?” Yoko Kurama asked from where he stood. “If I win, I will spare your life and exile you from seeing that woman ever again, but if you win, I will allow you to do what you wish with that bitch and leave if that is your desire.”

 

“That sounds fine to me,” Kuronue admitted, separating his legs just a bit as if to get into his own ready to attack stance. “Now, let's get this over with.”

 

“I've never sparred with you in some time, Kuronue,” the fox demon admitted letting the plants do as they pleased now. “It should be truly interesting on how you fair against my plants with a mere scythe for a weapon.”

 

Kuronue couldn't help but grin at the challenge in his tone, eyeing the plants with his narrow indigo eyes, seeing one rearing back and opening up in hopes of coming down to entrap the bat demon. Using his demonic speed to avoid the oncoming plant, the bat demon swung up with his sharp weapon to cut off the `head' of the plant and make it fall to the ground with a painful screech it emitted. “I think I will manage,” the bat retorted before inhaling sharply at the other plant coming right at him from his left, ready to engulf Kuronue within its tentacles.

 

“You are too cocky,” Yoko replied in a low scoffing tone. “If you do not watch yourself, you will end up being maimed by my plants.”

 

Seeing the large plant finally capture its bat pray, Nari couldn't help but bolt towards the demon she had come to care for, “Kuronue!”

 

Growling and snapping his head in the direction of Nari coming closer to his plants, Yoko Kurama couldn't help but allow one of carnivorous flora to attempt to attack her. “You stupid human,” he grumbled mostly to himself.

 

Nari heard the plant coming for her and was able to see it threatening to crash down and make her pay for moving. The large tentacles about to engulf her entire body caused the young woman to go taut with fear at the large plant coming for her with its center mouth opened to snag her if she didn't move.

 

Seeing the meat eating vegetation about to ensnare Nari, Kuronue yelled at her, “Nari, move!”

 

Nari jumped to the side, just barely being missed by the oncoming plant whose mouth crashed into the weak ground beneath them both. The thinned out area of the cliff not ready to be attacked in such a manner gave a sign that it was ready to give way thanks to that attack as it began to shake slowly before getting violent and finally breaking apart, causing Nari to go falling backwards towards the forest beneath her.

 

“Nari!” Kuronue panicked seeing her figure getting tossed from the cliff they once stood upon. Expanding his wings to the best of his ability even if the plant had one heck of a death grip on him, Kuronue eventually got himself free as he used what strength he had to get away from the Makai plant life and jump off what was left of the cliff to reach for the falling Nari.

 

Seeing that the slightly injured bat demon was trying his best to save her, Nari reached for his outstretched hand, praying she could grab it before she would hit the canopy of the forest as Nari screamed out his name in almost a plea, “Kuronue!”

 

Grabbing her wrist just in time as they finally crashed through the canopy of the demonic forest beneath them, Kuronue pulled her quickly to his chest before embracing her tightly so he could take most of the impact from whatever came at them. Spreading his bat wings to the best of his ability, he let the wind catch him and lift his demonic body up to where he could glide to the ground safely though it was difficult with one of his wings injured from the fight he encountered with Yoko's deadly plants. Eventually catching his footing with a slight hiss of pain thanks to his left wing being torn into, Kuronue put Nari back down on her own two feet though the woman was very shaken and slightly surprised.

 

Nari looked at the demon before her, never able to imagine that even someone such as him would risk so much just saving her from plummeting to her death. Words meant very little to Nari nowadays and when Kuronue said all those phrases to her, a part of her believed him but not with her entire being. But when he tore away from a Hell plant just to save her even though one wing was bleeding from the flora tearing into him and threatening to break his bones, Nari found herself unable to speak and her mind completely blank for a moment. “You—you saved me…”

 

Kuronue managed a smile for a moment at her silly response to what he had done, “I fought to win you, not lose you.”

 

“I realize that now,” Nari whispered, embracing him for a moment though gently concerning the rough session he went through.

 

Managing to catch up to them with his speed, Yoko Kurama eventually appeared behind the two watching them interact for awhile without interfering. A part of him couldn't understand what was happening between them and it scared him. He was scared of losing his own friend to a mere female human, and yet another part of him was surrendering and giving in to what the two of them wanted. He felt guilty for a moment of the crime he committed when it dealt with the demon and his slave before Kuronue and Nari as he continued to watch the two from a distance, eventually swallowing his pride since nobody but Kuronue and Nari were around to hear him.

 

“You would do anything for this mere human?” Yoko Kurama asked forcing Nari to cower behind Kuronue as the bandit came closer.

 

Kuronue turned to face his partner and friend with a serious look upon his features as he nodded at the question given to him. “Yes, I would. I am sorry if that upsets you, Yoko Kurama, but it is a truth that I cannot hide much longer.”

 

Yoko Kurama placed his hands upon his hips as he eyed the two once more before finally growling at himself and shaking his head. “Then I exile you, Kuronue—you and the bitch both along with that child she has shacked up back at the hideout.”

 

Kuronue widened his eyes slightly from the words that surfaced from Yoko Kurama's mouth in utter shock for a moment. “You will let me leave?”

 

“I will let you leave,” Yoko Kurama replied without hesitation before turning his back to the two. “Wait here, for I have to go and get that mutt back at the hideout that you left behind.” Gaining all of his strength into his legs, Yoko Kurama sprung off back in the direction of where the thief's hideout was located.

 

Waiting for the fox demon to leave, Nari looked up at Kuronue with a confused expression though it was filled with a speck of hope, “Kuronue, what is going on?”

 

Turning to look at Nari, he smiled a sincere smile before taking her hands within his own. “I can leave Yoko Kurama's guild and leave with you and Okuro. You will no longer be torn down as a demon slave, Nari, and Okuro will no longer grow up around demons such as Yomi or the others that have shunned him.”

 

Hearing that almost made Nari faint since it seemed like her prayers had finally been answered by someone up above. Clutching her hands a bit tighter within Kuronue's own, she could only stammer to try and find the words she was hunting for. “Are—are you serious?! This is real?!”

 

“Yoko Kurama is going to let us go this time,” Kuronue replied with a nod of his head. “We can do what you told me you always wanted to do which was, go and live with one another.”

 

Expressing another shocked face to the bat demon, Nari smirked a bit for the first time in awhile, “I am surprised you remember me even saying something like that.” Looking down at her bare feet a moment, she eventually had the courage to look back into his narrow indigo eyes that were shadowed slightly by the visor he wore. “Thanks for remembering that, Kuronue. I had forgotten the dreams I used to have that comforted me as a teenager.”

 

“I remember a lot of things of when you were growing up here,” Kuronue confessed before holding onto her arms gently to bend down and kiss her at least for a moment knowing Yoko Kurama would be back soon. Eyes widening suddenly during the kiss, Kuronue's senses got attacked by a sudden power surge that wasn't of Yoko Kurama and he felt heading right towards him. Grabbing up Nari into his arms, he quickly got out of the way as a large explosion engulfed in blue light lit up the area where the two once stood.

 

Screaming from the feel of the wind pressing against her and the sound of the blast attacking her hearing, Nari could only wonder who was attacking them now. Keeping a firm grip upon Kuronue's body, she looked beyond him once he turned around only to see a thick layer of dust covering the area they were once standing it. “K—Kuronue…what was that?”

 

“Shhh,” the bat demon ordered, herding Nari behind him as he feared who it was.

 

The both of them kept their eyes on the thick dust a few feet away from them wondering who would do such a thing since there was nobody they could have angered. Kuronue kept his senses up as he looked for the energy signature that seemed to be hiding from him; a fragment of worry began to tug away at his form as he wondered who would be strong enough to emit such a blast until it finally struck him. Dear God…it cannot be!

 

The figure behind the mess started to form gradually until he finally surfaced from the chaos he caused. The fired Spirit Detective stood there, eyeing the two star-crossed lovers with his fists clutched at his sides. “Do not look so surprised, Kuronue. I promised you and your wench that I would be back soon enough.”

 

Nari shook her head several times before boldly going beyond the bat demon to look at the detective, “Why now? What is going on here is none of your concern so why have you come back?”

 

Kuronue grabbed onto Nari's wrist to pull her back towards him with a scolding tone in his voice once he said her name, “Nari! Don't get near him.”

 

“You merely say such a thing because you are being spared, bitch,” Sensui was harsh in saying, pointing his index finger at her as if threatening to attack her with another of his spirit energy attacks. “You are purely thinking of yourself and letting the others stay behind to rot in their confinement. Even living down here you have learned nothing over the years and are still just a selfish human being.”

 

Nari felt the hurt that those words caused, shaking her head as she didn't want to believe she was being selfish. “No—you—you're wrong!” She growled angrily, her voice threatening to crack.

 

“What is your point of being here again, Sensui?” Kuronue demanded to know with a growl.

 

“You know why I am here and shouldn't even bother asking,” Sensui smirked, narrowing his eyes at the demon and the woman behind him. “Retired or not this mission was part of my job and I intend to finish it by destroying everyone and everything. There is nothing here but oppression, greed, and selfishness of both demons and humans. So I plan on taking both species out in Yoko Kurama's little guild to make everyone pay for their sins.”

 

Nari and Kuronue watched in equal horror as Sensui started to power up for his next attack on the two before he was to go and release a wave of terror on those back at the barn and hideout. But before he could hope to release it upon the two, Yoko Kurama attacked from the side to bring down the Spirit Detective.

 

“You need to be more aware of your surroundings, detective,” Yoko Kurama growled with Okuro in his arms. “You are in Makai and you should know attacking a demon in his surroundings will cause your downfall, especially if my plants thrive better in Makai.” The carnivorous plants he used before on Kuronue resurfaced behind Yoko Kurama, feeding off of their environment and the fox demon's energy to get bigger and finally attack the detective.

 

Seeing the plants heading for him, Sensui dodged the oncoming undergrowth that was about to ensnare him within their green tentacles. “Dammit,” he swore mostly to himself, using his power to blast one of the many plants that had risen to take a beating for its food.

 

With Sensui occupied, Yoko Kurama hurried over to Kuronue and Nari. Pushing on the back of Kuronue, he herded him back in the direction of the hideout once the demon scooped Nari back into his arms. “We have to get back to the hideout and evacuate everyone for those plants won't keep him occupied for long with his strength,” Yoko Kurama announced, keeping Okuro still who was confused as to what was going on. “I cannot believe he came back after all this time to cause problems and yet—a part of me suspected he would!”

 

“What are we going to do once we get back home?” Kuronue wondered running at his demonic speed with his friend close by. “What about Nari, Okuro, and me?”

 

“We're going to grab what we can and escape with who we can,” Yoko Kurama announced. “The loss of the hideout and the barn, I can live with that—but not with the loss of my members and the items we stole! As for you and the runt, I will deal with that later once everything and everyone is safe.”

 

 

 

Yoko Kurama managed to spread the word and get the demons in the hideout to take what they wanted and needed. He knew Sensui could destroy both places in one attack and he couldn't risk everything being destroyed especially the things he valued. Some of the demons only went for their slaves, while others left their slaves there figuring it was time to replace the old ones.

 

Nari stayed close to Kuronue with her son in her arms that Yoko Kurama eventually passed back over to her. Watching everyone scramble quickly and hearing the panic in some of the humans' and demons' tones, Nari couldn't help but look up at the bat demon who felt he had everything he needed and all else could be replaced later. “What is going to happen now? What are we going to do?”

 

Kuronue sighed a bit, shaking his head as he worked on getting Nari out of the way and to the place Yoko Kurama wanted everyone to meet. “I don't know. We will have to relocate for someone such as Sensui cannot be beaten nor can he be reasoned with. He is at equal strength with Yoko Kurama and it frightens me, I fear to say, to know a mere human could be so powerful…”

 

Before Nari could dwell any further on Sensui and his attitude, a blast could be heard not too far away and one of the demons sent to be a lookout came tearing back to the hideout where Yoko Kurama and the others were still trying to get things unloaded and quickly. “He is here!” The female demon with short blood red hair and piercing green eyes replied in a hasty tone, “He is here!”

 

Frowning at the energy signature he could feel heading this way, Yoko Kurama knew that Sensui must have taken out the barn in one attack and killed anyone around it or in it. The human casualties meaning little to him, he growled at the energy levels of his comrades fading. “Alright, everyone move it!” Yoko Kurama demanded with a bare of his fangs to show he was serious. “I don't care how you get to our next destination, just get there and split up into groups!”

 

Everyone obeyed and quickly at that, as the demons spread apart and disappeared in the thicket about the hideout in hopes of reaching the far north, beyond the ice capped mountains to the next area where Yoko felt everyone would be safe from somebody like Sensui. Yoko Kurama and Kuronue headed off together as quickly as they could, ordering Yomi to lead some of the demons to the next destination so he couldn't witness the kindness that Yoko was going to bestow upon his friend and their whore.

 

“I'll try to get you as far away from here as possible,” Yoko Kurama promised as the two ran at equal speed. “I'll take you two as far as the Makai Central City but what you do from there is your own business.”

 

“Thank you, Yoko Kurama,” Kuronue praised a bit breathlessly as he was worn down from the first fight he went through. “This really means—!”

 

Both of the demons stopped abruptly at Sensui who had obviously been following them if anyone out of the demonic group and he was waiting with his own power dwelling within his palm. “Trying to escape, are we?”

 

“Sensui,” Yoko Kurama snarled with his fox ears tightly curled about his skull to show his patients growing thin with the male. “Get out of here! Makai is not for you, and you have destroyed my hideout and part of my followers. So what more do you want?”

 

“I want the bitch and the runt that she carries with her,” Sensui insisted. “Demonic immortality for a human is uncalled for as is the mix-breed she carries. As for you, Yoko Kurama,—continue to stand in my way and I feel a legendary bandit fox would be quite the trophy to those who would appose me, don't you agree?”

 

Nari couldn't help but shake at the sudden want this man had over her and the child she was trying to hide from all that was going on. Shaking her head in fear and sadness, she looked up at Kuronue who was starting to get bold and stepped forward. Kuronue…? She could only wonder as she watched the bat demon place his hand on Yoko's shoulder.

 

“Yoko Kurama,” Kuronue whispered in his ear, eyeing the man before them, “take Nari and Okuro to the city. I will catch up with you later on in the outskirts.”

 

“You are foolish,” the fox demon scolded quietly in return with disapproval written on his face. “You are not strong enough to take him on, only I am!”

 

“Who said I need to beat him? If you wish to come back and aid me then do so, but I fear Nari's head will be removed if she is not out of the way.” Kuronue halted for a moment as he took his time to look over at the frightened woman and the son she held. “Besides, what good is it if I take her and cannot defend her against creeps like this? Take her to safety and then come back here. I will be waiting for you and we can destroy this man together.”

 

Yoko Kurama was silent for a moment before nodding his head and allowing Kuronue to take the first few minutes with him. “Fine, but I am trusting that you will be okay when I return.”

 

“Are you two finished?” Sensui asked growing impatient at the two conversing away from him. “I don't plan on waiting all day.”

 

Kuronue growled at Sensui's words before snapping at him, “You've waited a long damn time to come back and take action upon us, I think you can wait a few more minutes at most.” Turning back towards Nari and Okuro, the bat demon placed his palm on the back of the messy, blond hair of Nari that was being waved about by the mellow wind. “Nari, I will see you when I manage to finish this. I promise, but right now Yoko is going to take you to Makai City while I fin off Sensui.”

 

Nari knew Kuronue wasn't as strong as Sensui for the fear that was dwelling his expression showed so. She feared the worse and could only shake her head at the bat demon, “Please be safe…”

 

“I will.” Looking at Okuro who was quite petrified himself, Kuronue cupped the back of his head for a moment with a sincere smile only able to hope for the best at the moment for him. “Just be careful yourself for the demon city is a dangerous place. Now go!”

 

Yoko Kurama didn't give Nari time to say or do anything as he scooped her up in his arms bridal style before hurrying off towards the city as fast as he was able.

 

Sensui watched Yoko take off, seeming to not care one way or another before turning his attention back to the bat demon that was his new opponent. “No matter,” Sensui smirked, “I can get her since her energy signature is that of a weak human. But if you and your partner want to stand in my way, so be it. I will kill you first.”

 

Nari could only feel her tears sting her eyes as she watched Kuronue stand his ground before a foe that out matched him in strength stats. A part of her about to burst with questions the further away they got as she feared for Kuronue's life.

 

 

 

Yoko Kurama managed to get to the outskirts of the demonic city in no time at all that was bustling with technology used topside in Human World. The look of more unknown demons caused Nari to shiver in fear before Yoko Kurama placed her just within the woods for a moment with a frustrated huff, “Stay here and don't move until I get back or I will make you regret it!”

 

Nari nodded fearfully, holding Okuro close to her shaken form before watching as the fox demon headed quickly back to the fight. Please, Kuronue, Nari begged while rocking herself and her son a moment. Please be okay…

 

 

 

Hours seemed to pass and not one of them came back for Nari, making her wonder what was going on or if they even forgot about her. Keeping Okuro close by, the boy having fallen asleep awhile ago, Nari bravely got to her feet to step just a bit outside of the forest that she was staying within in hopes of Yoko Kurama or Kuronue finding her better. Treading out into the dim light of the morning that was to come, caught the eyes of some demons that were passing by and they couldn't help but gawk and stare.

 

“She's a human!” One demon woman said quietly to a male close by to her.

 

“What is a human doing down here?” A male wondered to another that was close by to him in the same wonder.

 

A little boy was nearby wearing a bi-colored hat and quite the bright shirt. His wide aqua colored eyes stared at the naked, beaten woman as he too could smell she was human. Looking up at the large, bulky demon beside him that sported a blue Mohawk, he couldn't help but ask, “Chuu, what is a human doing in Makai? I thought they were not allowed down here.”

 

“I don't know,” Chuu answered keeping his eyes on the woman standing there. “From the look of her, she has been through hell and back. Sad—I smell demons have gotten a hold of her several times. They probably treat her like a slave, Rinku.”

 

The younger demon felt bad for her as she stood there with the smell of fear swarming about her. Threatening to come a bit closer to get her something to eat or at least settle her down, Chuu couldn't help but grab his charge's wrists to make him stop and stay put. “What? She is hurt and she needs help even if she's a human.”

 

“We don't know who her master is, mate,” Chuu reminded the little boy. “He looks like quite the aggressive bloke, so we have to leave her be unless we want to be killed. Besides, she looks like one wild filly that could buck if we come any closer. I doubt she trusts a single demon down here.”

 

Nari watched the demons eventually leave her be and go about their business as she headed back into the wood just near the city limits. Sitting against a tree not too far away from where Yoko ordered her to stay, Nari waited a bit more with a lot of worry swelling inside of her. Watching as the sun started to get higher in the sky, Nari eventually fell asleep herself since her body was tired from the night that she had suffered through.

 

 

 

A nudge to Nari's side eventually woke her as she saw Yoko Kurama standing there with a stern look on his face. It frightened Nari in more ways than one as she moved away from him when she shot to her feet. Not speaking a word, she could only ask what was wrong and where Kuronue was with her face and body language.

 

Yoko Kurama was silent for a moment before finally outstretching his hand to indicate he was holding something within his palm that he was going to give to her. The one thing that Nari could hope not to see eventually dangled from the fingers that gripped the chain, which was the pedant that Nari had created for Kuronue a long time ago and that the bat demon never took off.

 

Body quivering as her eyes brimmed with tears Nari opened her shaking hand to take the pendant back with a confused look on her face. “Kuronue—where is Kuronue?” Nari boldly asked her voice cracking.

 

“I'm sorry,” Yoko Kurama said not looking cross at her but merely hurt by the outcome of the battle. “That was all I could find when I returned to the battle,” Was all he could say, in an odd quiet tone—Yoko Kurama seeming vulnerable for the first time in his life.

 

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Author's Notes: Long chapter as you can see but PLEASE don't go Misery on me.