Partners by Moonlight

Their shoes thudded against the rock in the tunnel, racing to reach day light. Kuronue drifted through his thoughts, trying to remember who their father would take outside the compound along with Mentou. Chances were that they weren’t as strong as their father... and more than likely less powerful than Kuronue’s older brother. He prayed silently to gods he didn’t believe in any more that Mentou hadn’t yet caught up with their father. If so, then there was no way he’d be able to take the woman back. It bothered him that even now... after all this time... his father still searched for him. Kuronue had hoped after some time had passed that he’d forget his delinquent son. That was probably the key to why his father sought him. None escaped from his grasp; it was more of a matter of pride that his son would be returned to him.

The end of the cave grew closer, the barrier more visible from this side of it. Soon he was free of the tunnel, Kurama dropping behind him as they entered the narrow rock passage. Kuronue glanced up, shaking his head. The opening between the thick rocks was too small for him to jump through. A few times his elbows scrapped against the rough rock, causing him to flinch but not falter. Luckily his wings were safe, tucked tightly against his back. The rocks finally gave way to the more open space of the cliff side path. Wasting no time, Kuronue jumped off the cliff, opening his wings to the wind. Beating upward was still hard, there was no way he’d be able to do it for long. Keeping the sun to his back, a trick he learned a long time ago to keep from being seen on the ground, Kuronue used the height to scan the landscape. Kurama was but a silver dot against the bloody rock, the rest of the road clear for as far as he could see... “There!” A group of blurs were doubling back along the mountain, almost parallel with Kurama. They were on the top of the mesa-like mountain, heading across the semi flat surface. Kuronue knew the direction they were heading well. Vague memories of the red rock on the cliff flowed through his mind; memories of the time he had barely escaped the creatures his father had sent after him, he had been bleeding heavily and thought the rocks were red because of it. Now that he thought about it, this area seemed a little more familiar. He never did know how he survived the night blundering through the forest blindly, blood constantly dripping into his eyes. It was some what frustrating to know that he was close to two towns and never even knew it, he had wandered away from themfactfact... Kuronue sighed and looked down to see where Kurama might be now.

“Looking for me?” Kurama called from behind him. The dark haired demon turned whipped his head around. On Kurama’s back was what seemed like purple butterfly wings. The thought made Kuronue snicker. “Tch, they’re plants stupid.” Kurama’s ears folded against his head as he glared at his partner. “Is that group over there the ones we’re lookinr?” r?”

“Yeah... They’re heading for my father’s lands.”

“Well let’s catch up with them before they actually arrive there, shall we?”

Kuronue nodded, “yeah.ut Mut Mentou is mine. I don’t care what you do to the others, I’ll take care of my brother.”

“Fine,” Kurama shrugged, leaning forward. The air currents pushed him towards the direction of the slow moving group. The two airborne demons weren’t moving quickly either, both reduced to gliding and relying on the winds to carry them to the objects of their pursuit. By the time they reached his brother, Kuronue’s wings were ready to give out. He was by no means used to using them like this, and the muscles in them weren’t built up enough to glide for long. After nodding once to Kurama, he folded his wings against his back and dived, aiming straight for his brother. A breath before he slammed into him, Mentou sensed it and turned to face him, then was slammed off of his feet. The force of Kuronue’s weight as well the pull of gravity knocked the wind out of him, air rushing from his lungs in a loud woosh. Kurama dropped to the ground, facing the demons who were left.

“Kurama!” The black haired orange eyed girl cried, smiling at her old friend. Her white silken robes were torn in places, tears staining her pretty face. While he knew she was older than him by several decades, she almost looked younger than silver youko. With a slow smile he tossed a few seeds at his feet, watching them sprout and grow within seconds. The plants dived underground, Kurama’s enemies blinked in surprise, then idiotically charged at him. Kurama called to the plants, feeding them his youki, the plants answered by bursting from the shallow dirt. Each were stabbed by a separate trunk, then screamed as branches burst from the trunk, ripping their bodies apart.

Amidst the gore Kuronue struggled with his brother. Mentou kicked Kuronue off of him, jumping to his feet. “How dare you attack me, your family!” His eyes drifted to Kurama then narrowed. The youko wasn’t paying attention to the two brothers, he was checking Yoriko for injuries. “You’re still with him?” The area around him glowed, his hair falling over his eyes. “If I can’t be happy, then neither can you... It’s only fair Kuronue...” Mentou snickered, raising his hand to strike Kurama down.

Kuronue’s eyes widened and time seemed to flow more slowly. He jumped to his feet then raced toward Kurama, Mentou firing off the ball of energy. Just as Kurama looked up the ball slammed into Kuronue, sending him flying into the kitsune and Yoriko. Neither the future seer nor the youko were hurt badly... Kuronue on the other hand...

Mentou walked towards his bleeding brother, metal tipped boots scraping loudly against the rock. “Stay down brother.” The wind ripped through his long hair, sending it and his coat whipping behind him.

“Fuck off...” Kuronue mumbled, sitting up. “No...” He reached for Kurama’s hand, pulling it away from his silver hair before he could summon his rose whip. This fight was his, not Kurama’s. “I don’t care if you have to tell father that you failed, and will probably die for it... but you’re not bringing her back with you.” The badly hurt demon struggled to rise to his feet, wiping the spilt blood that had passed his lips with the back of his hand. Kuronue smirked, giving his brother a smug look.

“Of course you don’t care, you selfish bastard.” Mentou growled, balling his fists. “You never cared about us. All you had to do, to save our brothers, was to just say one little word... As if it were easy for the rest of us to say it. Even though... Even though you disobeyed him right and left you were still his favorite! It’s not fair!” Mentou gathered himself to lunge at Kuronue when his eyes suddenly went wide, blood shooting from his chest. Kuronue had thrown his scythe when he knew his brother would be too distracted to deflect it. With a flick of his wrist he pulled the scythe back to him, catching it deftly in one hand. Mentou clutched at his chest, eyes narrowing. Kuronue was still standing, and didn’t seem quite as hurt as was originally thought. That added to the icy glare from the very angry kitsune behind him was enough to make Mentou beat a hasty retreat. “I’ll kill one of you some day, I swear to the gods I will!” He yelled as he left.

“If you survive your dear father, I’ll be happy to fight you next time!” Kurama called, smiling and chuckling to himself. His partner laughed as well then dropped to one knee, moaning softly. “Kuronue...”

“I’m fine...” Kuronue winced, mentally assessing his injuries. The force of his brother’s attack had nearly ripped him apart, the skin missing from any part of his flesh that wasn’t clothed. They bled, but the flow wasn’t what worried him. He was sure there was some internal bleeding, and breathing grew steadily harder to do. Black clouded his vision while he fought it off, trying to stay conscious. Dying because of his brother, just as he had found a way to destroy their father... this was not the time for him to go. He was so close to avenging Relita, he couldn’t die now... He willed his body to heal quickly, prong ing it could die as soon as his father was gone, but he got no response. “Damn it,” he whispered, the darkness finally claiming him.

Kurama caught him by the shoulders before he fell face first in the dirt. “Kuronue!”