Things looked pretty bad. Youko peered up. " The only way in..."
" By air!" Malaki laughed. " They come upon dragon backs!"
Not if we can help it!" Youko growled, pulling out the black stone.
" Kuro-Shin!" Came various gasps.
" Yes! Kuro-Shin!" Youko retorted. He began absorbing the energy, turning his lovely hold eyes yellow with not iris, no pupil...and turning his lovely silver fur a dark shade of black. The energy caused a wind to pick up, dark and menacing clouds began to form. He called out a strange chant, causing Makai plants to rise from the grounds about the perimeter.
However, Malaki jumped from the scaffold and onto Youko, slapping Kuro-Shin from his hands and into the hands...of Dawn!
" Give me that stone!" Malaki hissed at the little Dawn.
" Leave her alone!" Kurama called...in his human form....and grabbed Malaki.
Ryu removed his mask, " Men to the defense posts! Women and children fall back!"
Karasu stepped forward, punching Malaki in the face, and enjoying it. It was always one of his fantasies to abuse his brother-in-law. The hit caused the smaller youkai to drop unconscious.
" Kurama, you stay here with Dawn!"
With that, he threw off his mask as several other males did the same.
" Karasu!"
" Don't argue with me, Kurama! If anything happens to me, you have to protect her!"
With that, the males began taking defense posts on high peaks surrounding the valley.
" I'll do what I can!" Ryu shouted, " Any lucky ones to get past me...destroy them!"
Karasy nodded and summoned a swarm of Dilusai Chasing Bombs. They filled the sky as Ryu charged himself up....summoning super amounts of electrical energies.
Kurama took Dawn's hand and pulled her back.
" No! Don't leave my daddy!"
" We have to fall back, Dawn. I can't chance losing both of you."
" Kurama-ma...will he be alright?"
" I hoenstly don't know, Dawn. All we can do is hope."
" Your daddy is stubborn," Chyna chimed in. " He'll pull through."
Karasu at the other peaks at the other males. Ryu worked the hardest, using his energy to make the skies dangerous.
" Dilusai chasing bombs," The bombs glanced at him, " patrol the outer perimeter. Blow up anything that moves."
Swiftly they were off to obey the order. A spark of lightening brought his attention back to Ryu.
" Heaven help us," Karasu muttered, feeling the tension rising. He peered into the valley. He felt himself choke. " I'm not stopping until it's over. They'll have to kill me otherwise." A pause, " Kurama, take care of my baby girl."
As if by instinct or some mystical hearing, Kurama pulled Dawn close to him in the valley. He scowled at the fallen Malaki.
...
" Here they come!" Torafu shouted. Karasu peered over and narrowed his eyes. Swiftly, bombs began attacking the half-demons on dragon-back. Though Karasu's attack was helpful, there were far too many enemies for the bombs.
Down in the valley, Malaki slowly pushed himself onto all fours and smirked at Dawn and Kurama. He crawled undetected as they watched the battle in the sky.
" Give me that!" He grabbed Dawn and dragged her back. Kurama called after her as she let out a yelp.
" Back!" Malaki warned. " Just stay back!" He peered down at Dawn, " Kuro-Shin, brat, or you die."
" No!" Kurama took a step.
" BACK!"
" Bastard!" From Chyna. " Picking on babies! You coward!"
" Yes."
" Aunt Chyna! Kurama-ma! What should I do?!" Dawn pleaded.
Kurama trembled, " Give Malaki Kuro-Shin."
"Nani?!" From Chyna.
" I swore I'd protect her! Dawn, give up Kuro-Shin!"
Dawn did so and was released to run back to Kurama.
" At last!" Malaki helf the prize high, " Kuro-Shin!"
Kurama eyes Malaki evilly. With him entranced within his victory, perhaps he could...
" ROSE WHIP!"
" Nani?!"
The thorny rose whip cracked forth, throwing Kuro-Shin from Malaki and several feet away.
" Kisama no baka kitsune!"
" There are no easy battles when Kurama is involved!"
Swiftly the two began hand-to-hand.
" Kurama-ma!"
" Stay back, Dawn," Chyna ordered.
Up on the peaks, Ryu began to tire. Several males had already been shot down. Karasu grit his teeth. " Fall back!"
The remaining males turned to look at him. " BACK!"
No more needed to be said. It was understood. Karasu inhaled, powering up to his full potential. His silky black strands turning an electric blond.
" Take this you hanyou bastards!" He smirked, leaping into the air. He landed behind a hanyou on dragon back. The rider let out a gasp.
" See you in hell, Slave-Driver."
With that....a great explosion!
Several were taken out by the blast, but not all. He landed with a smirk on a peak then felt a sharp pain in his chest. He glanced down to see a wound. That bastard must have taken a shot at him just as he was about to explode..
" Karasu!" Kurama cried out.
" YES!" Malaki cheered.
Ryu's eyes shifted and widened as he saw Karasu fall to the valley below. Ryu finally dropped to his knees, exhausted and desperately hurt. Was he truley going to lose his father, his son and his freedom all in one day? He was defeated. The hanyou began to cheer. Malaki waved to them as Kurama ran to Karasu's side.
" Karasu, please tell me you'll be alright."
Karasu was weak but managed to place a hand on Kurama's cheek. " I've always liked you best."
" Don't talk funny. We need you."
He shook his head. " It's...over. The clan is gone....only a matter of time before Kuro-Shin is gone too."
" Karasu..."
" Nono. Kurama...I've been waiting patiently for you to ask."
" Ask?"
" I know you want to, but you won't ask."
" Karasu..."
" Adopt Dawn, Kurama."
Kurama choked on his surprise.
" Promise me you'll take good care of her."
Kurama was in tears now. " You know I will, Karasu. And so will you."
Karasu shook his head, " No.." He pulled a lock of red hair and kissed the salty lips. When released, he fell lifeless.
Kurama buried his face into the body as he sobbed. He glanced aside to see Kuro-Shin. He picked it up and cursed it silently. It was all Kuro-Shin's fault to cause all this trouble. He held it tight as he placed it over Karasu's body and continued to cry....cry over a fallen warrior and lover.
" You can't die," was almost inaudible through his sobs. " Don't leave Dawn...don't leave me."
" Boo-friggin-hoo!" Malaki taunted. " Hurry this up. I have to get Kuro-Shin and the slaves back to headquarters."
Kurama gripped Kuro-Shin tighter and noticed Malaki taking a step back. He himself glanced down at the stone which pulsated. He felt energy flowing through him as Kuro-Shin slowly....turned red. Kurama's eyes glowed as his youki was altered.
In fact, Kurama himself was altered...forced into his Youko form...or something similar. His eyes glew an ember orange, firey red hair and clothing. Instead of his normal one tail, he sported 3 tails as pointy as flames. Sharp fangs and claws made Malaki leap back to keep his distance. Gasps and whispered came from all sides. The green youki about Kurama rose like fire from him.
" It can't be!" Malaki gasped. " Kuro-Shin....it became....Sore-Shin!"
...
Super Youko stood tall, " I owe you for your attack on me."
" How is this possible?!" Malaki squealed.
" Life isn't bad enough having Suiichi refuse such luscious bodies...or even falls in love with Sir-Explode-A-Lot. Nooooo....but then I must endure his deepest pains and sorrows when everyone he loves is injured or killed. I honestly thought I hated Karasu."
Malaki took another step back.
" Iie. I've learned, Malaki, that hate is not the feeling I have. Suiichi loves him. And Karasu...he amuses me. Perhaps it's possible. Maybe I love him too and wish him to please Suiichi while I get the chance to toy with him. But you, Malaki....YOU....I hate you. It is very unwise to displease Youko Kurama."
" How can this be? Sore-Shin has been asleep for ages!"
Super Youko purred. " I guess I can make all things: man, woman, animal, plant, even stones rise to my attention if I please."
Super Youko raised his hands as viscious carnivorous plants sprang from the earth, some swallowing hanyou from the air.
" Let the plants toy with them. I myself wish to play with you."
" Keep away from me!" Malaki warned. Super Youko found such naivity or was it stupidity, amusing, " Run, Malaki. I wish to chase you."
" Kurama!" Chyna called, " We don't have time for these games!"
" Damare, Onna!" Super Youko hissed. " I want to play!"
With Super Youko distracted, Malaki was swift to turn and run. Poor, stupid fool. Super Youko smiled, humoring him; allowing him to pass through the plants unharmed.
=No, my pretties.=He mentally told them. =It is I who will destroy him at my hands.=
He waited, then took off into the foliage. How delicious this was for his senses. How sweet that he could find Malaki, even without trying. Sore-Shin in his pocket promised him powers he could only imagine.
To Be Continued...
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