Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Rose that Binds ❯ Chapter 10 ( Chapter 10 )

Well, I hope you guys are enjoying this so far ^_^. Here's the next chappie. I kinda had to laugh while I was writing this. When you read the first chapter, try imagining Kurama sniffing a piece of paper. Ha ha.

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Chapter 10

 

The four demons of the group each held the letter, memorizing the scent that was laced on it. Once it was firmly planted in their brains, they set off toward an old apartment complex. As they ran along, the buildings grew more and more dilapidated.

 

Saiyu wrinkled her nose in disgust. "If this is what your time looks like everywhere else, I hope I die before it happens."

 

Keisu and Kagome understood what she meant, having traveled to the Sengoku Jidai themselves. But the others, especially Yusuke and Kuwabara, couldn't completely comprehend what the problem was.

 

"What's so bad about it? Yeah, in some places it's a total dump, but it can't be that much better than where you come from, what with demons killing everyone," Yusuke said.

 

She looked at him. "The smell is disgusting. The air and water is no longer clean, but poisoned with your `exhaust' and the mulch you eat. You humans discard so much, when there are many uses you could discover."

 

Kuwabara huffed indignantly. "Hmph. I don't really have a problem with the world as it is."

 

Hiei scoffed. "You wouldn't. It just passes you by day by day. You don't even realize what goes on until long after it happens."

 

Saiyu had to smirk at that. The apparition had a point, the boy was slow. He wouldn't last a minute in the Sengoku Jidai.

 

It took a little while for Kuwabara to process what Hiei said. By the time it hit him, they'd stopped at a door numbered 209.

 

"Hey, Shorty! You wanna go at it?"

 

Saiyu let out a very low growl and covered his mouth with her hand. The others grimaced and looked around them warily.

 

"Keep that tongue inside your head, or I will rip it out."

 

He nodded, his eyes wide. A small, rare smile graced Hiei's lips. I like her. She's got an attitude. Not to mention she can scare the baka without lifting a claw. She'd make a good mate. His smile faded. Where the hell did that come from?

 

Everyone stood still, listening for any signs of danger. When nothing was heard, they all relaxed a little.

 

Kagome stepped forward and whispered, "Alright. Everyone ready? I don't know what we'll find in there, but be ready for anything. I want you all to cloak your energies. Only let about forty percent be revealed. It'll be to our advantage if they believe us weaker than they are."

 

They all nodded and Kagome turned the knob. The small group stepped into the dimly lit room. There were numerous closed doors leading down the hall.

 

How strange. It's like a maze. Kurama thought.

 

"Okay," Kagome whispered. "Here's where you canines come in handy. Sniff 'em out."

 

Saiyu and Hiei let out a growl and refused to cooperate. Saiyu merely stood there and inspected the walls while Hiei crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes. Kagome sweat dropped and turned to the other two. "Would you?" They nodded and set off down the hall followed by Kagome and Yusuke, Saiyu and Hiei, and Kuwabara bringing up the rear.

 

Hiei eventually became bored and worked his way up to the front, walking beside Kurama. This forced Keisu to the back, where he stood beside Saiyu.

 

"So, which of your powers are you going to use? I think you should use your spiritual powers. You don't use them very often and it's really cool when you do. Not to mention, Hiei and Kagome would be impressed."

 

She looked at him with narrowed eyes. "What does Hiei have to do with this?"

 

"Oh, c'mon. You like him, admit it. I've seen you peeking his way. I'm very observant."

 

"Hmm." Yes, but not when you need to be.

 

"So, what powers are you gonna use?"

 

"Plants."

 

"Aw, but your spiritual powers are so cool! C'mon, Sis, please!" He gave her a puppy look and she grimaced.

 

"Stop that, it doesn't suit you." Damn him. I'm getting soft.

 

"I got an idea. How about we play Rock Paper Scissors? If you win, you can use your plant powers. If I win, you use spiritual. Deal?"

 

"That depends. What is Rock Paper Scissors?" She cocked her head, curious. She had never heard of this game. It sounded boring to her, but anything was better than just staring at the walls ahead of them.

 

He explained the concept of the game and she thought it over. What could it hurt? I can read his mind anyway. She nodded her head in agreement.

 

Heh heh. She's goin' down. I know she can read my mind, so I'll just put a barrier around it. And he did so.

 

Damn him. He's learning.

 

Keisu held up his enclosed fist and Saiyu did the same.

 

"Rock . . . Paper . . . Scissors!" they said in unison. Keisu's hand was lying flat while Saiyu had kept her hand balled in a fist.

 

"Paper covers Rock. I win! Now you have to use your spiritual powers," he said a little too loudly. This earned him a unanimous "Shhh" from the three humans and an annoyed look from three demons. "Oops."

 

Saiyu sighed in frustration. It was fair. I guess I'll have to use them.

 

The small band stopped in front of another door, this one was also labeled 209.

 

"Here we are," Kagome said. She placed her hand on the doorknob. Just as she was about to turn it, a voice rang out.

 

"Enter."

 

She jumped, composed herself, and opened the door. The room was very dark. Black drapes covered the window, blocking out any light from the outside world. They walked in and the door shut behind them. Kagome and Kuwabara jumped at the sound.

 

They looked ahead, but saw only darkness. Then two yellow slits appeared. The voice spoke again, coming in the direction of the slits. "I sssee you took my invitation. Sssso glad you could make it."

 

"R-right. Y-you said you had information for us on the whereabouts of the Shikon shard?" Kagome asked shakily. She never did really like the dark.

 

"Ssshh. Do not ssspeak that word here. Even wallsss have earsss. Anyone could be lissstening."

 

"How about you show yourself? We don't really appreciate talking to something we can't see," Yusuke said.

 

"I rather like the dark, Detective. It sssuitss me jussst fine to remain in it."

 

Kurama then remembered one of Saiyu's abilities. He just hoped she did as well. "Saiyu, if you would?"

 

He felt her shift to the front of the group. She then changed form, the light too blinding for them to keep their eyes open. A loud hissing came from a corner of the room as whatever was there was exposed to the brilliance. Once the light died down, you could see lavender eyes staring out into the space.

 

Saiyu began to glow, allowing her spiritual powers to seep out and settle into the tips of her fur, making a somewhat primative light. It wasn't the best, but you could see.

 

They looked to the corner where the eyes once were. There rested a snake demon, his eyes narrowed in frustration and anger. The girl was not supposed to be here. The lord will not be pleased if she is injured.

 

"That'sss a niccce trick you have there," he said in his slimey voice.

 

"Yes, it is, isn't it? Now, the information," Kurama said, getting straight to the point. Something didn't feel right.

 

"Ah yesss. Regarding the . . . treasure." The demon glanced to the side to an opening that had a cloth over it. This gesture did not go unnoticed by Hiei.

 

"What's behind the cloth, Snake?" he asked, venom laced in his words.

 

"I don't know what you mean. There isss nothing there," it said nervously, once again glancing at the cloth. This time, everyone saw.

 

"It was a trap!" Kuwabara said, pointing at the snake demon.

 

It hissed and slithered forward. "Ssshut up, you fool!" It lunged at Kuwabara, who yelped and jumped out of the way. Yusuke was there in a heartbeat, his fists flying through the air.

 

With every hit, the demon cringed, its pain evident. "Massster, help me!"

 

A new voice rose from the shadows. "Now why would I want to do that, Kuryo? You failed. I have no more use for you."

 

Saiyu stiffened and her breath caught at the voice. So he is here. She took up a defensive position, growling in warning and extreme hatred. Keisu, seeing her do this and knowing something was very, very wrong, followed her lead and drew his twin blades.

 

"Come out, Kishan," she said, her voice calm and filled with hate, echoing throughout the room.

 

Kishan chuckled. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Love. I still have some unfinished business to take care of. Though I must say, it is very tempting. You get more beautiful every time I see you, even in your demonic form."

 

She almost gagged. This bastard is going to die now! She let out a growl and charged at the doorway. Before she reached it, she was flung back by a wave of power.

 

"Ah, ah, ah. Not just yet."

 

Yusuke had finished beating up on the snake demon, who now lay in a bloodied ball on the floor, sobbing. The detective sauntered back over to his team mates and let out a satisfied sigh. "Now that felt good."

 

The snake slowly slithered toward the door. "M-massster . . . help me . . ." it begged.

 

Kishan let out a cold, heartless chuckle. "I will help you, Kuryo." A light grew behind the sheer cloth covering the doorway and flared outward. The snake demon let out a horrified, pain filled shriek before disintegrating into dust. The light died slightly and the group looked towards the doorway. A single silhouette could be seen in front of the light. Then Kishan's voice echoed to them, seeming farther and farther away with each second that passed.

 

"Until we meet again, Reikai Tantei. I look forward to it."

 

Then he was gone. Saiyu changed back into her humanoid form and let out an angry cry, smashing her fist into the concrete floor below her. She took a few deep, haggard breaths and composed herself. When she rose, her emotionless mask was replaced.

 

"We should go. It is no longer safe here." With that said, she turned her back on them and walked out the doorway, her shoulders stiff. Hiei followed her, studying her and wondering if he should talk to her.

 

I'll do it later, when no one else is around.

 

Knew you'd admit it to yourself eventually.

 

Not you again. Didn't I tell you to leave me alone? You're such a pain in the ass.

 

Yes, you did. But I believe I told you I'd be back. You can't get rid of me, Hiei.

 

Just go away. I need to think.

 

Alright, I'll leave for now. But only because you were a little nicer to me.

 

The voice left and Hiei returned to his thoughts. I don't think I like her. She merely intrigues me. Though her face doesn't show it, her actions speak louder. She has been through a lot. And I want to know what that is. The only way I'll find out is to ask, since she seems to know whenever I try to probe her mind. He remembered the last time he tried. She'd thrown him through three very thick trees and into an ice cold lake. That really torqued him off. He shook his head. He'd think about this later in private. Right now that damn fox is looking at me. I wonder what he's thinking.

 

Kagome turned to Yusuke once they'd exited the building. "Can you call Botan and ask her to send us a portal? It would be a lot faster than walking all the way there."

 

"Sure." He opened his compact and contacted Botan. "Hey, Botan. Kagome wants you to send us a portal so we don't have to walk all the way there."

 

"Sure." A moment later, Botan stepped out of a portal, her oar in hand. "So, how'd it go?"

 

"We didn't learn anything other than Kishan is here, in this era. Kurama and Saiyu were right, it was a trap. Though a very sucky one," Yusuke surmised for her.

 

"Oh, well. That's not good. Lord Koenma won't be happy. Come on. Let's go and you can report it to him."

 

She opened a portal to Reikai and they all stepped through. The site that greeted them was one they never thought they'd see. The bodies of ogres were strewn everywhere, most of them in impossible, mangled positions. Blood soaked files littered the floors and stuck to the walls.

 

Botan was frantic. "Oh, Kami! What happened? I was only gone for a few minutes! How could this happen! Lord Koenma, Lord Koenma!" She raced to his office, the others following closely behind.

 

They burst through the door to find the office empty, but covered in blood. Botan fell to her knees in shock. "Lord . . . Koenma?"

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You guys are so gonna hate me for this. Sorry, but I just had to do it. But it's a good cliffy, ne? I thought there should be a little suspense since this chapter seemed kind of boring. Sorry for the lateness, it's been a little hectic what with everyone asking me to sing for them and all. And I kind of forgot I had this story, hehe. My bad. But I've already got chapter 11 started, so hopefully it will be updated faster than this one. Thank you to all of you who have stuck with me so far. I feel so loved. Oh, also. I've noticed that Hiei is getting a little out of character, but bear with me. I mean, I figure that since it's getting close to his mating season and his hormones are starting to act up, he'd act a little differently. Know what I mean? So, yeah. Don't mind the OOC-ness. It should go away once the season is over. (Notice I said should.)

 

Comments, Suggestions, Questions? Feel free to say (or ask, as the case may be).

 

Ja ne, missan. Hope you enjoyed it!