Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Right Here Waiting For You ❯ Chapter 46 ( Chapter 46 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

~*~*~*Story Start*~*~*


~*~*~*A Month Later*~*~*


Blood flew from my mouth as I collapsed to my knees in pain, my breathing ragged and shallow. My side was still racked with pain, but that was my fault this time instead of Kane's. I clenched my teeth tightly, my fingers gripping at the ground, digging up grass roots and dirt as I tried to make the waves of pain go away. I was an idiot for pushing my body to limits that they shouldn't be, but considering I've been having a very bad feeling plague my mind for the past four weeks, I just couldn't sit in that hospital bed in Reikai. I wasn't sure what was going on in Ningenkai, or maybe even Makai for that matter, as those two always are involved in what goes wrong nowadays.  I just didn't know, but that's what scared me.


The pain slowly subsided, leaving me to gasp slowly and shakily as I laid my head against the ground, closing my eyes. Thanks to my training, despite the gash in my side still being there and not being healed, I was able to take pain a lot better than previously. That isn't a good thing to get use to, but when have I ever really cared about what happens to me? Never. Well, okay that's a lie, I like to live, but you know what I mean. However, if I wasn't so scared I would have stayed in that hospital bed instead of escaping every chance I could, something that actually makes me proud to be an ex-thief once again. ...Oh, I could just picture Kurama's narrowed gaze and hear his warning tone right about now.


Carefully pulling myself to my feet, I waved my hand in front of me. “Portal of Shadows,” I whispered before darkness swirled out from the air and I stepped through.


The sterile smell of my hospital room instantly filled my nose as I stepped onto the white tiled floor. Walking slowly towards my bed I gripped my side, reaching under my pillow I pulled out a large roll of gauze and bottles of antiseptic. Cleaning my wound and biting my lip through the pain I securely wrapped the gauze around my waste before slipping into my hospital gown and crawled under the covers. This was really the only time I would actually let myself rest, and right now I was so glad that I wouldn't be bothered for another hour or so. So closing my eyes, I let myself fall into a deep sleep, my aching muscles finally relaxing.


~*~*~*~


The sound of my hospital room door slamming open shook me awake, my eyes snapping open and my body almost went into a fighting stance on instinct. But when I saw a teenage prince walking into the room with a serious gaze in his brown eyes, I couldn't help but pale in fear that he had caught me. I quickly started to think of excuses, good ways to apologize and anything else that could save my ass from this pompous prince's wrath.


“Kira, I need you to go to Ningenkai. Now,” Koenma said breaking me from my frantic thoughts.


“I-I pro-promise I di-” My stuttering words froze and my eyes stared up at Koenma in confusion. “Wait, what?” I asked, raising a confused eyebrow up at the prince before me.


Koenma's expression didn't change. “I need you to go to Ningenkai, Kira,” he repeated.


I was now very confused. “But I thought I wasn't suppose to get up, you know because of my wounds?” I said as I tried to unblock my ears that I were convinced played tricks on me. What the hell is going on?


Koenma narrowed his eyes even more. “I know that and I'm sorry that I have to do this to you, but something's happened and if you aren't there Yusuke is going to die,” he said seriously, instantly making me awake and alert.


“What?!” I shouted, my eyes widening. “Does someone have Yusuke?! How?!”


“That isn't important right now, all that I was informed about was that Yusuke is being held by a group of three ningens and if you, Kurama, Hiei and Kuwabara aren't there in one hour Yusuke is going to die.” Koenma suddenly pulled out my regular clothes and placed them on my bed. “Get dressed quickly, the others are having a hard time finding Hiei, which could prove very fatal for Yusuke. I'm sorry I don't have anymore information Kira, but that's all I can give,” and with that said, he walked out of the room with the door closing right behind him.


I stared at the door with a shocked look on my face, that explanation way too fast and very uninformative. However, I ignored that for the time being, and threw off the covers of my bed and quickly cleaned my wound once again and wrapped it in gauze before getting into my clothes.  With a very quick once over of myself to make sure I wasn't bleeding from the bandages and that I looked presentable, I summoned another Portal of Shadows. Stepping through I walked through the dark corridors, my heart pounding in my chest and temple, biting my lip nervously. If Yusuke was able to be capture by three ningens, then who knows what could happen to the others? Also, if Yusuke got captured so easily, then saving Yusuke is going to be almost impossible.


Great.


~*~*~*~


Steppi ng into Ningenkai, the familiar nighttime sights Mushiyori City met my senses. I had felt three Spirit Energies in this park and decided if this was the others then fuck yeah I did great, but if it were the people holding Yusuke hostage...well lets just say I'm going to say the opposite of what I thought for the other option.  Letting my eyes trail around the park, I moved slowly into the shadows, waiting for any slight movement that went passed me. However, my cautious nature instantly fell when I saw Kurama, Kuwabara and Botan standing in the park together, Botan holding a suitcase under her arm. Relief filled me, thank god I did NOT want to face those three guys alone!


“Guys!” I waved wildly as I ran over to them, ignoring the pain completely. “Thank god it's you,” I said with a sigh of relief, slowing down to a stop in front of them.


Kuwabara smiled happily. “Hey, Kira! We were wonderin' when you were gonna show!” he said with a laugh.


I smiled sheepishly. “Sorry about that,” I said as rubbed the back of my head.


“How are you wounds, Kira?” I blinked, turning to Kurama. “Are they healing normally?” he asked as he smiled down at me, but there was concern in his eyes. I paled a bit at the question, hoping that his cryptic eyes didn't notice my small chance in expression.


“Yep, I'm almost healed so don't worry!” I said with a grin, giving him a peace sign, hoping that would distract him from my drained face.


Botan stared at me with concern. “Are you sure? You may have been resting for a month, but that wound still may be serious Kira, don't try to push yourself too hard, all right?” she asked, and I felt very horrible for lying. Dammit me!


“I'm fine, Botan, I've done everything I was suppose to and my wound is perfectly fine now,” I reassured.


Kurama nodded, and I was completely surprised to know that he bought that. “That's good, fighting these three ningens sounds dangerous, we wouldn't want to make your condition worse.” Forcing another smile, I watched as he turned to Botan. “Now Botan, you've brought Yusuke's old Detective Items, correct?” he asked, and I sighed silently once the attention was off of me.


Botan quickly rebounded from her concerned state, and clapped her hands together with a smile as she remembered the suitcase beneath her arm. Holding up a finger for us to wait, we watched as she knelt down on the ground and opened the bulky, silver, metal suitcase. Inside were eight tools, causing Kurama, Kuwabara and I to lean forward interested. Considering Hiei still wasn't here, they were using these Detective Items to find our jerk-ass of a teammate and my love-interest.


“And Bingo!” Botan gave us a cheerful smile, gesturing towards the tools. “All the gadgets of the Spirit Detective!” she said with pride filling her tone.


“Wow!” Kuwabara exclaimed. “Like a real secret agent!”


Kurama looked at each item critically before he turned to Botan. “So, which device will find him?”


Yep, I was right! I'm so awesome! x)


“Uh...” Botan laughed nervously as she sweat dropped, making me stare blankly at her, way to go Botan! “Oh right, let's see...” She pulled out a watch with a red face, and I rose an eyebrow at it. “The superbly improved Youkai Compass! A fresh take on a classic style for tracking down any youkai!” she chirped.


“But can't Hiei simply deceive it by manipulating his Energy?” Kurama asked.


Botan froze slightly before smiled, pressing a button on the watch that made the top side open, revealing a different panel. “Not anymore! Thanks to this newly installed sample chamber! By placing his DNA inside, such as from a strand of hair, we can find him regardless of his Energy,” she explained with another grin on her lips, and my blank stare only grew deeper.


“It's too bad I don't carry around a locket of his hair,” Kurama said sarcastically, his face blank as well.


“Uh...yes good point,” Botan said sheepishly, sweat dropping.


“Did you honestly think that we would have Hiei's DNA with us?” I rose an eyebrow at her, but I glared at Kuwabara when he suddenly smirked. “Why the hell are you looking at me like that, Kuwabara?” I asked.


The red haired ningen said nothing, just smirked wider at me and a blush stained my cheeks. Horror lit my face for a brief, fleeting second, but that was enough for me to know that this could be very serious. Oh, don't you even dare say that Kuwabara somehow picked up on my feelings for Hiei! Quickly thinking over a fool proof plan, I glared at Kuwabara with an even deadlier stare before I whacked him upside the head, ignoring the two sweat drops from a certain cat and kitsune in front of me.


“Ow! What was that for?!” Kuwabara asked, holding his throbbing head.


An irk mark pulsed on my temple. “For being a creep, that's what!” I snapped with an anime mad face, watching as Kuwabara let out a nervous laugh and moved away from me a bit. Damn ningen pervert...


Botan laughed a bit nervously, sweat dropping even more as she saw the looks Kuwabara and I were giving each other. “Ah, what about this Psychic Spy Glass? We can see through brick walls and search the entire city!” she said loudly, drawing our attention once again back to her, seeing her hold up a circular glass.


“In less than an hour?” Kurama asked.


I groaned slightly, my shoulders slumping in exasperation. “Botan,” I whined, frowning slightly.


“Okay!“ Botan put on a forced smile as she showed us a thick ring on her pointer finger. “Forget seeing through wall! We'll use the Concentration Ring to blow them up!” she said 'enthusiastically'.


My eyes widened slightly. “Ooh! Lets's do that! That sound fun!” I shouted with an excited grin on my lips.


Kurama and Kuwabara both sweat dropped at me before turning their blank expression towards Botan, and the blue haired Pilot let out a nervous laugh, her face paling slightly at the looks she was receiving. However, my smile dropped and I realized that this was really getting us no where. Next to me Kuwabara was shaking with anger and irritation, while Kurama, Botan and I let out a sighs of defeat as we hung our heads. This is just great, if we don't find Hiei soon then Yusuke is gonna die! And if Hiei lets that happen, I don't care about my feelings for him, I will beat the ever loving shit out of him!


Kuwabara let out a sudden yell, grabbing the suitcase. “Let me see this stuff!” he shouted as he rifled through them, throwing any item that didn't seem to satisfy him in the slightest, making all of us look up from the ground.


“Careful!” Botan shouted with wide, panic filled eyes. “I'm accountable for that!”


Kurama frowned. “Perhaps it's the wrong approach, instead of finding him is there an item that will make him find us?” he asked, looking at at the suitcase.


“Yeah, Reikai has to have something like that, right?” I asked hopefully.


“Get real!” Kuwabara shouted, making a fist. “Botan would have mentioned it if we had something like that!”


Botan got a bright smile on her face as she slammed her fist into her palm, obviously remembering something and I stared at her blankly once more. Again, way to go Botan... “We do!” Kuwabara anime fell, but she ignored him as she pulled out a yellow whistle. “The Mystic Whistle! I never had much of a reason to show Yusuke this darling, but it's really quite neat. Sort of a dog whistle for apparitions, it shoots out a sound wave only they can hear. The stronger your Spirit Energy, the louder the sound! I can make it go at least sixty miles!” she said with a smile as she stared at the whistle.


I let out a low whistle. “Wow,” I said blinking.


“You'd better cover your ears,” Botan warned as she stood up. “It's rather annoying.”


Kurama, Kuwabara and I quickly did as she said, all of us holding our hands over our ears or in Kuwabara's case IN his ears. “'K!” Kuwabara and I said together, while Kurama only gave a nod of his head in response.


Botan gave us a smile. “Well here goes!”


Sucking in a deep breath, Botan blew loudly into the whistle and a second later the worst noise I could ever here hit my ears. I winced as my head pounded, the screeching of the whistle grating in on my apparently fragile ear drums. Or because, as she said, the stronger our Spirit Energy is the louder the sound. However, it was at a moment like this that I really, really didn't want to be at whatever Class I was at right now. This goddamn shit really hurts! I opened my wincing eyes, looking at Kurama, seeing him in the same predicament I was in. Kuwabara, on the other hand, looked completely confused, while a bunch of birds flew out from the trees behind him. I sweat dropped despite the pain, BIRDS have more Spirit Energy that Kuwabara. That's very sad...


Kurama let out a groan. “It penetrates my brain,” he said through clenched teeth.


Tears began to form in my eyes, but the pain wasn't enough to actually make me cry, it was more like getting your hair pulled kind of pain that makes your eyes water. “Dammit, after we find Hiei I'm smashing that damn whistle,” I hissed, really wishing that Botan would stop now.


“Really?” Kuwabara asked, taking out his fingers. “I'm not hearing anything but the birds.”


I sweat dropped again, but I let out a sigh of relief when the terrible noise finally stopped. “There, now we wait for Hiei, hopefully he shows up,” Botan said as  she took the whistle away from her lips.


I let my arms dropped from my ears, Kurama doing the same but I couldn't help but rub them as if that would make the throbbing go away. However, I let out a small squeak of surprise when I saw something covered in all black fall from the tree behind Botan and land with a loud thud. We all turned around, seeing Hiei sitting up, rubbing his ear with a pained and irritated look on his face. I ignored the blush that came to my cheeks as my heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, having not seen him in the four weeks I've been 'resting' at the hospital. He still looks as handsome as I remember...


“That was fast,” Kuwabara commented, breaking me from my thoughts, making me blush harder.


Hiei, however, ignored the red haired ningen and pretty much all of us. “What repulsive creature makes my eardrums bleed?” he asked with a growl, eyes forming into a dangerous glare. I couldn't help but laugh quietly at that, he looked like he was going to kill someone. Ooh...


“Hi, Hiei!” I said happily, walking over to him with the others.


At the sound of my voice Hiei's head snapped up, seeing me leaning forward to smile down at him, while the others stood on either side of me. “Thanks Hiei, I thought you'd come if we called,” Botan said.


Hiei scoffed, standing up. “I didn't know it was you, I only came to find the source of that vile noise and kill it,” he snapped annoyed.


“You're still such a ray of sunshine,” I said sarcastically with a smirk.


Hiei only rolled his eyes.


Kurama smiled slightly at us before he turned serious, grabbing a piece of paper from his pocket. “Here, you better read this,” he said with a narrowed look in his eyes as he read the characters on the paper before handing them over to Hiei's slightly confused form.


Hiei read the note with an uninterested look at first but when he finished an amused smirk appeared on his lips, making me frown. Great. “So, the Detective's been ensnared. Wish I had been around to see it, he must have been too cocky to realize his own weakness. Just tell the kidnappers I turned it down, I'm finished babysitting,” he said as he handed the note back, walking away from us.


“Hiei, don't go!” I cried as I took a step forward, making him stop.


“You must be curious, Hiei” Kurama spoke up, taking the opportunity without hesitation. “Someone strong enough to overcome Yusuke must surely provide a challenge.”


Hiei glanced at him, making sure not to meet my eyes.  “Nice try, but I know longer care,” he said bluntly.


Botan couldn't help but gape at him in shock as he began to walk away once again. “How can you think of walking off, Hiei?! If you don't come Yusuke could be killed!” she shouted, hoping that would at least change his mind, but I couldn't help but feel that it would take a LOT of convincing to get through to him.


“Not my responsibility.” Hiei turned, an annoyed glare in his eyes now. “You should have learned by now, this is a kill or be killed world. If you're too weak to help yourself, you deserve to fall,” he said harshly.


“Then what if stopping these people now protected your own interests?” Kurama asked.


Hiei rose an eyebrow at that.


Kurama's eyes narrowed slightly. “The culprits are likely ningen, and all three of us know what powerful ningens like to hunt. If they're allowed to kill Yusuke, perhaps you will be next,” he pointed out, and I swallowed nervously, not liking the idea of someone threatening to kill Hiei at all.  


“Fighting ningens, that nearly peeks my interest, but not quite,” Hiei said with a smirk on his lips.  


“Hiei, please!” I looked at him pleadingly, not noticing him tense up slightly at my gaze. “Without you who knows what will happen?” I asked, my hands wringing themselves nervously.


Hiei said nothing, not meeting my eyes once again, making me frown deeply.


Botan looked almost desperate now. “Koenma ordered us to do whatever it takes to get Yusuke, so whatever you do won't go on your record and there won't be anymore time added to your probation, ” she said looking at him pleadingly as well, and my eyes suddenly widened as an idea came to mind. Probation...


Hiei glared. “I said no.”


“Botan,” I turned to her suddenly, catching the others attention. “If Hiei helps us bring Yusuke back alive, Koenma could lift his probation to time served, right?” Botan looked slightly surprised by my question but nodded and I turned to Hiei's slightly confused and shocked form. “If Botan can get Koenma to do that, then you'll be free,” I stated calmly, although I would be lying if I said that I would be sad to know I might not be able to see him again once he's in Makai...


“Kira?! Are you sure you want Botan to do that?!” Kuwabara asked, staring at me in alarm.


I smiled over at Hiei, not looking away from him as I nodded. “Yep. So what do you say Hiei?” I asked.


Hiei's shocked expression quickly dropped, and smirk appeared on his lips which made my smile widen. “Fighting ningens to win my freedom? Yes, I think I'll take you up on that deal, Onna,” he said.


“Thank you, Hiei!” I shouted as I hugged him tightly.


Quickly letting go, I ran forward and motioned them all to follow me, ignoring the look Hiei was giving me. Botan gave a laugh at my excited nature, relief filling her eyes. “Then come on, this is one house party we can't be late, too,” she said as we began to run towards our destination. ...Well, Hiei didn't, but whatever!


“I'm gonna kick so much tail!” Kuwabara shouted with a cocky grin.


Hiei laughed mockingly, which made me let out a laugh as well.


The sound of that made Kuwabara fume angrily and glare down at Hiei. “Stop laughing, Hamster Legs!” he shouted with an irk mark on his temple, but instantly backed off at the dangerous glare directed at him.


I let out a smile despite the dull aching pain that was growing in my side, but made sure to keep the look of pain off my face, although I'm sure I'll be able to do just fine. That damn training really did help me deal with pain a lot better than I could before. However, I stopped thinking about that and followed the rest of the group down the light streets. Before long we reached the strangest looking mansion I have ever seen. It looked like a fun house, having different looking objects sticking out of the roof, and there were so many pointed roofs reaching up into the sky. I blinked at it as we stopped outside the gates. This place looks so awesome! ...Wait, bad Kira! Bad! No liking the enemies base! NO!


{Onna,} Hiei suddenly called. {Your wound.}


I stiffened, quickly glancing at my left side, but sighed in silent relief to see that I wasn't bleeding through. {Huh? What about my wound?} I asked, keeping the nervous tremor out of my 'voice'.  


{Is it healed?} he responded.


I blinked slightly in shock, but forced a smile on my lips. *Oh yeah, it's fine.” I saw the look Hiei was giving me, and I tired to ignore it. “Don't worry I'll be able to hold my own and not slow you guys down, I promise,* I thought/lied, hoping that the smile was good enough to fool his eyes.


Hiei only glanced at me, his eyes narrowing, but it wasn't out of annoyance this time. Surprisingly.


“Is this the place?” Kuwabara asked, bringing me back. “It looks deformed.”


Botan nodded, however, she didn't look too sure.  “It's the only old mansion on the block,” she stated.


Kuwabara glanced down at Botan. “Well, stay here Botan, whatever this house is, it's definitely not safe for non-fighters,” he said seriously.


“That's sweet of you, I guess, but I'm going,” Botan said firmly, her pink eyes narrowed determinedly up at the malformed mansion before us. “ With Yusuke out and you missing your Spirit Energy, I'm the only one that can use the Detective Tools.”


Kurama nodded. “She's right, our strength lies in numbers.”


We all walked cautiously forward, besides Hiei of course, he had that 'I'm bored and I really wish I wasn't here right now' look on his face, but ignore him. We looked all around as we neared the oak door before us, eyes roaming over untamed and littered lawn. However, when we stepped onto the porch, our eyes landed on the door and we saw another note tacked onto it. My eyes narrowed at it, if they were trying to give us a clue or a warning then this has to be the most suspicious looking thing I've ever seen. When we saw the note and what it read the boys and I stopped short, leaving Botan to walk right into Kuwabara's back.


“Give a warning next time,” Botan huffed, slightly annoyed.


Kuwabara, however, ignored her. “The House of Four Dimensions,” he read, causing Botan to look over his shoulder, seeing the note on the door.


“Once entered, this do not, ever utter the word 'Hot',” she finished with a frown.


“Is this some kind of riddle?” Kuwabara asked.


Kurama shook his head. “No, it is a warning. There's no way to know if it's real, but we may as well take precaution,” he said looking at us with narrowed, serious eyes.  Turning around, he opened the door slowly before stepping inside.


Kuwabara nodded, following after the red haired kitsune. “Right, no one say the word 'Hot',”said just before walking through, ignoring Botan as she shushed him.


“Idiot,” I mumbled, shooting him a glare.


Hiei glanced at my annoyed/concerned form blankly. {You should know by now that the baka won't ever use common sense, Onna,} he said a bit bluntly, making me shoot him a glare as well. He's calling me dumb again, I just know he is. Asshole.


*Shut up, Hiei,* I mumbled with a pout as I crossed my arms over my chest, stepping inside after him.


I stopped my childish thoughts when I suddenly felt the Energy around the area change, and that made me tense up. Pushing it to the back of my mind for the time being, I followed after the others. Another door laid before us, however this time it was different. It was circular instead of rectangular and metal instead of wood. It opened automatically, and I shot it a cautious/wary look before following the others through it. But when we did, we all immediately stopped and stared at the room we entered with wide, confused eyes. There were strange lighted sculptures on the ground, a glowing fish bowl, a strange looking ceiling light that shot out steam making the whole room feel humid and gross, and so many other things that I couldn't even begin to wonder what the hell they were. Whatever this room was, it looked like a freak put it together, and I started to get a real bad feeling about this place. ...Well, I felt even worse.


“That's odd,” Botan commented, slightly startled. “What is this place?”


We all stepped into the room, ignoring the door as it slid closed behind us. Kuwabara took a step forward, but when he did the room flashed with a yellow glow, making me jump slightly at the unexpected action. I scrunched my nose up in distaste, I was really hating it in here already, and we haven't even met one of the kidnappers yet and this was only the first room. Well, I can tell that I'm going to hate their guts right when I lay my eyes on them. ...For obvious reasons  of course, not just because I don't like it here. Jerks.


“It looks all twisted up,” Kuwabara stated, bringing me back from my annoyed thoughts once again.


“And that steam,” Botan said/groaned with a frown on her lips, looking up at the weird looking ceiling light that hung a few feet from us. “It's like an oven, it's so ho-”


Kurama placed his hand over her mouth. “Remember the word we're not saying.”


I quickly calmed my rapidly beating heart, that near slip up nearly giving me a fucking heart attack. I looked at Botan with the same glare that I had given Kuwabara not even a minute before, and she sweat dropped down at me, but considering Kurama didn't let her go she couldn't say anything. I rolled my eyes at her slightly in exasperation. Geez, not even five minutes into this damn place and two of us almost said that word. If none of us are careful we'll probably be thrown somewhere where we'll never find Yusuke!


“Kurama, Onna,” Hiei called, making us look at him. “Did you two feel that?” he asked, eyes guarded.


I nodded mutely knowing what he meant, and my eyes narrowed.  


Kurama looked away from him, his a guarded look appearing in his eyes as well. “Yes, when we entered the Energy schematic changed. It feels as those we've somehow been transported to a different space,” he stated monotonously, and that caused me to shutter involuntarily, I did not like that thought thank you!


“Or a different space time.”


Our eyes snapped towards the sound of the new voice, the boys and I tensing up while Botan froze. Standing in a small hallway in front of us and to our rights we saw a boy who seemed to look a little older than Kuwabara, who had black hair that was in a similarly style to said ningen's but was a little more poof-y and shorter. He had beady black eyes that were behind black rectangular, thin framed glasses, making him look like what Yusuke and Kuwabara would call a 'nerd'. However, the thing that really got my attention was his outfit, it being the exact same one that Kurama was wearing. Kurama's school uniform. My mouth dropped open in surprise, they go to the same SCHOOL together?! Holy shit!


“Welcome to the House everyone, I'm so glad you made it,” the boy said mockingly.


Kuwabara's expression darkened considerably at the sight of the boy before us. “Yeah that's him; one of the guys Urameshi left with,” he said with a growl, his fists clenching at his sides, and I glared as well.


The boy smirked, making us turn to him. “Recognition; I just love how that feels,” he said with a chuckle.


I sneered at him. “Well he's 'delightful',” I spat sarcastically.


“Listen dork!” Kuwabara shouted as he stepped forward angrily. “I don't know who you think you are, but we're no normal school kids!”


Kurama stepped forward, eyes narrowed. “His name is Kaito,” he introduced bluntly.


I blinked in slight surprise, I didn't think that Kurama actually know who he was. Kuwabara was surprised as well. “Hold on, how on earth do you know that?” he asked, eyes narrowing wearily at Kurama's form, while I only rolled my eyes at the look.


“He is a classmate,” Kurama informed blankly, not noticing the look. “His test scores are second only to mine; remarkably bright for his age. I've never spoken to him personally, and naturally I've never told him about you.” Kurama narrowed his eyes dangerously at the black haired boy. “Kaito, where have you gotten your information? And why have you kidnapped Yusuke?”


Kaito chuckled again. “It's a real grip-your-seat mystery, isn't it? I hear your team one something called the Dark Tournament, and I hear that's quite a feat, my congratulations,” he said with a smirk.


I scoffed quietly, my fingers flexing in irritation.


I wasn't sure if Kaito noticed or not, but he let out another short laugh as he sat down on a lone chair in the middle of the room. “Really, I was most surprised about you, Shuichi. Try to put yourself in my shoes; learning my school rival can also do the funniest things with plants,” he said tauntingly, eyes on Kurama.


Kurama's jade-hued eyes were now in a glare, looking dangerous and cold.


“Ooh, that's a scary look,” Kaito mocked, his smirk widening. “I don't remember you ever making that face in the classroom. Then again, we both keep things from our peers. You see, I learned that I have a talent, too.” The look in this kids eyes made me tense up, my senses now on guard. “And being such great champions as you are, I was hoping I could test them out on you.”


Kuwabara clenched his fists as his side. “Okay, this is ridiculous! We've been through stuff you couldn't even dream about!” he shouted, looking as if he was going to start punching Kaito right then and there.


I stepped forward as well. “If I were you, I'd stopped talking. You have no idea what you're getting yourself into, ningen,” I hissed lowly.


“I'll take him,” Hiei suddenly spoke up, slowly sliding his sword from it's sheath, blood red eyes flashing icily. “You'll agree my impatience for ningen fools will be an asset. Now!” he shouted as he suddenly disappeared, and we all looked towards Kaito, seeing Hiei heading towards him.


Kaito didn't look bothered. “You'll be sorry,” he stated calmly.


Hiei's eyes narrowed even more. “I doubt that!” he growled angrily, just seconds before he swung his sword.


The sound of Kaito's chuckle and glass shattering loudly met our ears, but considering what broke, it was actually metal. Our eyes widened in shock, as well as Hiei's, when a sudden burst of strange Energy formed over Kaito's form just a split second before Hiei's sword hit. The top of Hiei's sword had broken clean off, the middle shattering into nothing while only a few inches of metal still lingered on the hilt. The tip landed a few feet away, sticking out of the ground while Hiei landed back onto the ground in a crouch, staring at Kaito's smug form with eyes of confusion and shock. I swallowed thickly, turning my gaze away from Hiei's form and towards Kaito's. What kind of Energy was that?


“Never doubt,” Kaito reprimanded, his glasses flashing.


Sweat trickled down Kuwabara's temple as his eyes widened ever so slightly from their glare.  “How the heck did he just do that?! Energy came right out of no where! It looked weird!” he shouted in shock.


“What kind of twisted place is this?!” I growled dangerously, not liking the looks of this.


Kaito chuckled once again, which was really starting to get on my nerves. “As you see, this is a very special room where brute strength cannot exist. Only your words have power here, just make sure you follow my one posted rule,” he reminded with a smug look on his face, and I really wanted to punch him. Too bad I couldn't do that now. Great.


“What's he saying?” Kuwabara asked.


Botan took a small step back, eyes filling with fear. “He must mean the note on the door,” she mumbled.


“Indeed,” Kurama agreed.


“As a child,” Kaito suddenly started, drawing our attention back to him. “Playing pretend, I would make my own world with my own rules, but I've learned I can do it for real. Growing up as a bookworm ,I guess it was inevitable what I would decide to rule out. Violence.” Hiei growled lowly, making Kaito glance down at him in amusement. “I can see why that bothers you, Hiei. In the world of fighting your skills let you bully anybody you want. But in my Territory you're just a tiny, sword-less man,” he mocked, watching as Hiei stood up, a dark smirk forming on his lips.


I didn't like Hiei's smirk at all right now, already having a pretty good idea what he was going do to. “Don't you even dare do what I think you're gonna do!” I warned seriously, my eyes widening slightly.


“Control your temper, Hiei!” Kurama added sternly. “He wants you to act out of anger!”


Hiei let out a scoff, eyes flashing as the smirk grew darker. “Any buffoon can make a shield, how do we know your other claim isn't just a bluff?” he asked, and I was so close to hitting Hiei upside the head for even acting like this. What the hell was he trying to prove?! He could get himself killed!


“There's only one way,” Kaito dared.


“No three letter word can rule my fate,” Hiei spat coldly.


I glared at Hiei. “Don't say it!” I admonished.


Hiei, however, ignored me all together, that goddamn smirk of his never leaving his lips as he said, “Hot!”


Kaito tutted as he shook his head slowly in mock disapproval, instantly making me turn to Hiei's form with a concerned gaze. Suddenly Hiei let out a surprised gasp, his eyes widening as bright green Energy began to  surrounded him. Hiei didn't seem to be moving at all, as if the Energy had paralyzed his body. With that thought in our minds fear contort out features. Oh shit...


“Fight it, Hiei!” Kurama shouted. “Try!”


“Dammit, move!” I added.


Hiei, however, wasn't able to respond, his features frozen into the exact same expression. Our eyes suddenly caught sight of something blue and purple, it shimmering in the green light as it covered Hiei's entire body before all three colors lifted and flew towards Kaito. The blue and purple lights turned into a single, small flickering flame as it suspended in thin air. The green Energy turned  into what looked like liquid, forming around the purple flame like a bubble. However, that wasn't what caused my eyes to widen even more, but this time in horror. I looked at Hiei's form, seeing everything that was on him and himself turn to stone, now a gray color. Fear filled my whole body, what the hell did Kaito do?!


“I told him not to doubt me,” Kaito said boredly, looking at the flame as it hovered next to him. “But that's what happens when you say the taboo word; your soul becomes part of my Territory.”


I glared at him venomously, but when I saw Hiei's petrified body start to fall backwards, I forgot about him completely. I was behind him in an instant, catching him by the shoulders and I couldn't help but flinch at how cold he felt. However, I didn't take into account how heavy he would be, and I fell to my knees, albeit softly, scared that if I dropped him that he would break. Botan and Kuwabara were by my side a short second later, both kneeling down on either side of me, their gazes locked on Hiei's stone body as he laid in my lap. I bit my lip, holding onto him as if for dear life, and I hated to admit it but I didn't know what to hell to do to help him. Dammit, why did he have to act like an idiot and get his SOUL stolen?! That damn dumb ass...


“Wake him up!” Botan cried, her pink eyes startled and confused.


Kuwabara touched Hiei's shoulder, only to recoil his hand back with shocked eyes. “He's ice cold!” he exclaimed startled as well.


Botan frowned. “Oh dear...”


Tearing my eyes away from Hiei, I glared heatedly at Kaito's bored form, and he didn't even flinch when he met my eyes. “You better turn him back now or I'll find away to slit your throat, you bastard!” I hissed, poison lacing those words as my eyes flashed dangerously, almost matching Hiei's to a tee.


“I told you, only your words have power here,” Kaito said, shrugging my threat off easily.


My anger flared dangerously, and I ignored the worried glances that I was getting from Botan and Kuwabara. “Wanna hear the power of my words? Well, how about this: Fuck you!” I snarled.


Kaito chuckled once again before his eyes traveled over to Kurama's rigid form. “You lose a point.” Kurama glared with the rest of us, anger growing. “Now we've taken two hostages; Urameshi's having his fun upstairs. So, what's your next move? Go home? Or play through the round?” None of us answered. “It's a kick; your life style. The secrets, dueling opponents for special powers.  I only started last month, but I've worked hard. My first challenge was learning how to control my power. The guys and I call it 'manifesting our Territory'; so far I've gotten to a ten meter radius around me. As long as I concentrate, everything inside it has to follow the rules I've set; imagination turned to physical law,” he explained.


Kurama stared at Kaito coolly. “So, by that logic, if we incapacitate you the rules will cease and Hiei's soul will return to his body?” he asked.


“I don't know, maybe,” Kaito shrugged, causing Kurama and I to glare harder at him. “No one's beaten me yet so it hasn't come up,” he said with a smug smirk on his lips once again, and he really said the wrong thing.


Kuwabara stood up, clenching his fist. “That's it! I can't take anymore of this rookie and his ego trip!”


“How can you stand these friends of yours Shuichi?” Kaito asked with a sigh. “They can't handle one smart conversation, it must get lonely. Still, you haven't chosen; will you challenge me or go home?”


I looked at him as if he were stupid, and I wished he was. “What the fuck do you think?” I spat heatedly.


“Temper, Miss Akira,” Kaito reprimanded mockingly.


I only growled lowly.


“Wait,” Kuwabara spoke up suddenly. “You're forgetting the third option.”


Kaito rose an eyebrow at the red haired ningen, however his expression didn't look all that interested. “Really? I'm drawing a blank, what do you mean?” he asked boredly.


“We forget about Hiei for now, and move on!” Kuwabara glared at Kaito angrily. “That's my vote!” he shouted as his statement and vote were final, ignoring Botan as she anime fell at his harsh words, a sweat drop going down the back of her head.


I stared at the fifteen year old in shock and anger. “Kuwabara! We're not leaving him! “I shouted back.


Botan got back to her feet, her eyes narrowed as well. “I agree with Kira.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I never expected to hear that from you, Kuwabara! Hiei's your teammate!” she scolded.


“It's his own code, right?!” Kuwabara looked away from Botan, his narrowed eyes on me. “Kira, you had to bribe him to help Urameshi 'cause he said weak men deserve to fall! Then he turns around and says the wrong thing on purpose just to be cool!” My jaw tightened, but I said nothing, knowing he was right. “Lets save him for after we're through, that'll teach him a lesson,” he said giving Hiei's form a sour look.


Kaito laughed under his breath, catching our attention instantly. “You have a brain after all, course it's not a very good one.” He ignored the glare that Kuwabara shot at him, his smirk dropping. “That option is invalid,” he stated bluntly.


“Why not?!” Kuwabara demanded. “You can't hold us back!”


“No,” Kaito agreed easily, but an amused and smug look appeared on his face. “But you can't get through a doorway if you don't have the proper key.”


All of us heard a door shutting, and our eyes snapped towards the small hallway Kaito had walked out of a few minutes before. Inside the crooked hallway, there was another boy  standing in front of a strangely designed door. He had the weirdest looking hair style I had ever seen, his purple hair shooting into the air, his hair formed into a box like shape. His eyes were half-lidded and a lazy smirk was on his lips as his head  tilted back, giving him a laid-back air around him. He was wearing a black suit like uniform with a white button up shirt underneath, the top button undone. He turned towards the door, locking it with a golden key before turning back to us once again.


“You mean Urameshi's in there?” Kuwabara asked, pointing towards the door.


The new boy just chuckled, that smirk really starting to get on my nerves right now, considering that's all these guys appear to do. “Let's just say that door is your first step, but Yanagisawa has the only key,” Kaito informed, matching his comrade's look.


Kuwabara laughed cockily. “Now this I can handle!”


I watched as Kuwabara walked into the hallway, ignoring Kaito's loud scoff. *Let's just hope that you actually can Kuwabara,* I couldn't help but think, turning a concerned eye down towards Hiei. Oh...


“All right 'Mr. Hairspray',” Kuwabara snapped as he stomped over to Yana. “Hand over the key while I'm asking you nicely.”


Yana smirked as he blew a bubble, it popping obnoxiously. “No dice,” he refused mockingly.


Kuwabara glared harder at him, and I frowned at how close he was to losing his temper. “Listen, I'll give you one more shot just in case you don't know who I am! Give me the dumb key!” he said, his voice getting progressively louder with each word.


“All right, why don't you come knock me out and take it, man?” Yana held up the key tauntingly in front of Kuwabara's face, before he asked, “Come on, or did you lose your strength, too?”


“You...little...!” Kuwabara pulled his fist back, throwing it forward. “Shut your hole!” he shouted angrily.


Another strange burst of Energy formed in front of Yana, and I flinched before Kuwabara's fist even made contact with the solid shield. When I heard his knuckles connect with the shield, I looked to see it turn a very painful shade of red as Kuwabara let out a shout of pain, pulling his hand as he gripped it tightly. He fell to his knees, his teeth clenching in pain and I glared at Yana when he threw his head back and laughed loudly. Goddammit, if this fucking place didn't cause our strength to be useless we would have gotten Yusuke out of here by now! My teeth clenched together as I growled, hating how useless I was being while Yusuke was captured, Hiei had his soul stolen and Kuwabara was now hurt. This day just couldn't get any fucking better, now could it? Didn't think so!


Yana brought me out of my angered thoughts, crouching down in front of Kuwabara. “You gotta get a better memory, we're still inside of Kaito's Territory and you know he doesn't like violence.” He patted Kuwabara's head softly. “We gotta be gentle with each other, okay?” he asked as if he were talking to a five year old.


Kuwabara looked up with a glare, watching as Yana put the key in his breast pocket. “How about I gently shove my foot down your throat?” he growled, clenching his fists once again, despite the pain.


“So,” Kaito spoke up, turning to Kurama. “You finally decide?”


Kurama's emotionless mask appeared. “I'll play by your rules Kaito, whatever they are,” he agreed calmly.


“Good,” Kaito chuckled, smirking darkly.


I looked over at Kurama, a frown of worry on my lips. I didn't like how things were already starting to go, and whatever Kaito had in store for us, only Kurama could do it. It seemed as if Kaito was only targeting Kurama, and that only made me worry even more. I bit my lip as I turned my gaze back down to Hiei's petrified form, hoping that his soul would come back soon, and safely.


~*~*~*~


Ending it here! Wooh, Chapter Black Saga! I love these episodes so much, they're so weird and awesome, but poor Hiei xD. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Bye!
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