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~Standard Disclaimers Apply~
Chapter Six
Kurama cautiously peeked over the boulder, his silver ears flat against his head. The camp was only just stirring, and he allowed one ear to perk up, listening intently as he scanned the area. Youkai were scattered about, some sleeping, others walking around groggily, the victims of severe hangovers. In the center of the camp was a large extravagent tent which would only house the leader. A prisoner would not be kept there. The fox continued to scan the camp until he saw another tent at the edge of the camp, much smaller than the first and nearly unnoticable. Just inside the entrance stood a single guard, looking alert and thoroughly contented with his position. Hiei...
The silver-haired youko ducked back down, stuggling unsuccessfully to keep the rage and sorrow from his face. Kuwabara's fist tightened and as he muttered threats under his breath.
Yuusuke growled softly, then spoke, his voice tight between his clenched teeth. "We have work to do. Kurama, you get Hiei while I create a distraction. Kuwabara, you stay here. If we fail, we need you to get backup."
Kurama nodded in agreement. "If we fail, get Mukuro." Kuwabara scowled, obviously annoyed that he was only backup, but nodded.
Yuusuke jumped up, satisfied with the plan, and ran into the camp without warning, yelling insults and blowing up random youkai.
Kurama shook his head, sighing, and skirted around the camp, headed toward the tiny tent. His progress went unnoticed as the youkai rushed to attack the raging son of Raizen. The fox stepped into the tent noiselessly, easily slaying the guard. He froze as he saw his friend. Hiei lay sprawled facedown in an odd position on the ground. His hands were bound with wire to the tent's center pole in such a way that his upper body was painfully suspended a few inches from the ground. The sanjiyan's clothing hung from his body in tatters, concealing few of his injuries.
As Kurama moved closer, he saw the other reason for Hiei's unnatural position. The fire demon's right hip was dislocated. So even if he had managed to unbind his hands and kill the guard, he couldn't have escaped. The youko cursed colorfully under his breath at the creatures that had hurt his friend. Then he gently unwound the wire from around Hiei's wrists, wincing at the deep slices the wire had caused. Once the wire was removed, he turned the fire demon over and lowered him carefully to the ground. Kurama winced as he saw Hiei's face, which had obviously been struck repeatedly. One of the youkai's eyes was swollen shut, and the right side of his jaw was twice the size it should have been. Hiei moaned slightly, his unswollen eye fluttering open, glassy and unfocused.
"I'm here, Hiei. It's Kurama. I'm going to get you out of here." He flinched as a tear slid down the fire demon's cheek, crystalizing and falling to the ground. The fox's eyes widened. His memory... Hiei shuddered and let out a strangled whimper, then passed out. Hiei... The youko grabbed the tear gem and shoved it into a pocket, then quickly removed his unblemished white tunic and wrapped the unconscious Jaganshi in it, not caring that the garnment was becoming stained with blood.
He carefully lifted his friend into his arms and cradled him against his chest, holding him as gently as he would a newborn ningen baby. Then he made a discreet exit and took the scenic route back to Kuwabara. He sighed in annoyance as he saw that Yuusuke wasn't back yet. Kuwabara frowned at him. "Is he okay?"
Kurama sighed. "He's alive..." Kuwabara's frown deepened. The fox sighed again. "Would you be okay?"
Kuwabara looked away. "No."
A stream of curses with Yuusuke's voice drew near, in what they all knew as his oh-shit-we're-screwed tone. Kurama and Kuwabara looked at each other, then turned and ran, Yuusuke right behind them. "What's wrong?" Kurama asked as they ran.
"Quest class! We have got to get out of here!"
"K'so!" Kurama growled. "My territory is close to here. Follow me!" He turned to the right. "Once we get there, I can slow them down and break them up. The quest class we'll have to deal with when we get to it."
"Kurama, it was a youko," Yuusuke said.
Kurama nearly fell, but caught himself and kept running, Hiei held gently against him. "What?!"
"They're shooting at us! Kisamas!" Yuusuke cursed as he dodged a ki blast. "A white youko with a huge scar on his face. Do you know him?"
"Yes." Kurama's voice was nearly a snarl. "He's my father."
Kuwabara and Yuusuke looked at each other in shock, then jumped to avoid another ki blast. "Y-your father?"
"Yes, my father," the fox snapped, nimblely flipping over another ki blast. "Hurry up. If he catches us before we reach my territory, we're as good as dead, so cut the chatter and concentrate on running. We have a kilometer to go before we get there."
They ran through the forest at full tilt, dodging through the foilage and ki blasts. Gradually, the foilage thickened, slowing them down slightly. Fortunately, it also slowed their pursuers down as well. Suddenly the forest seemed to close around them, but a path opened before them as they ran, the plants parting for them.
"We're in my territory," Kurama stated. "They will have complications in following us now." His eyes glowed silver for a moment, and agonized screams rang out behind them, startling Kuwabara and Yuusuke. "Most of them won't reach us." His eyes returned to normal. "But that won't stop Kadyou from reaching us eventually. We'll have to fight him."
Yuusuke swallowed hard as more screams rang out, many of them cut short. "W-where are we going?"
Kurama glanced at him. "My old lair." They continued for a few more minutes until they came to a very small clearing in which a stream ran. On the other side of the stream lay the entrance to a cave, which was only seen after the foilage in front of it parted. The fox gently set Hiei down on a soft bed of grass, then turned to Yuusuke and Kuwabara. "Stay there and be quiet." He stalked to the cave entrance and called in. "Youri? Are you in there?"
A shrill voice called back. "Kurama-sama?" A tiny youkai appeared at the entrance. It's head was huge, with huge flappy ears at the sides and large purple eyes. It's fingers were about as long as its forearms. "Youri hear Kurama-sama dead!" the thing squeaked. "Youri glad Kurama-sama not dead. Nothing can hurt Kurama-sama!"
Kurama chuckled a bit. "I was dead, Youri. I'll explain later. Kadyou is stopping by for a visit, and I need those special seeds."
The thing's eyes widened. "Kadyou? Hai! Youri get guickly!" The thing disappeared.
Kurama turned to Yuusuke and Kuwabara. "Youri is my servant. I keep him protected and taken care of in exchange for his service."
Youri appeared at the cave entrance again, carrying a small pouch. "Youri find for Kurama-sama special seeds. Will kill Kadyou?" The creature's voice was hopeful.
"I hope so, Youri. If I don't you might be in danger." Youri noticed Yuusuke and Kuwabara and backed away. "Those are friends, Youri. Come meet them." Youri stepped forward, hiding behind Kurama's leg in a way that reminded Yuusuke of Hiei when he had first lost his memory. "This is Yuusuke." Yuusuke nodded at the creature in greeting. "This is Kuwabara." Kuwabara grinned.
"Greetings, Kurama-sama's friends, Yuusuke-sama and Kuwabara-sama." Youri looked down at Hiei. "Who this? He hurt!"
Rage showed on Kurama's face. "That's my friend Hiei."
Youri looked at the unconscious fire demon with a sad look on his face. "Kadyou hurt Hiei-sama. Hurt him very, very badly. Kurama-sama very angry?" Kurama nodded. "Kurama-sama want Youri should help Hiei-sama's hurt?" The fox smiled and nodded. The little demon smiled brightly. "Hai, Kurama-sama! Youri help Kurama-sama's friend, Hiei-sama!" The little demon touched Hiei's forehead, and some of Hiei's lesser injuries healed immediately. Youri looked up, his face showing exhaustion from using his ki. "Youri can't help Hiei-sama anymore. Youri tired. Youri sorry, Kurama-sama."
Kurama smiled at him. "Thank you for helping Hiei, Youri. You helped a lot."
Youri smiled widely, looking ecstatic with the praise. "Youri happy! Youri think Kurama-sama's friends thirsty. Youri bring good water." The little demon disappeared into the cave again.
Yuusuke looked at Kurama. "He's weird."
The fox smiled. "He's also very kind-hearted. He used a lot more ki than he should have trying to heal Hiei." Kurama sighed. " I saved Youri from Kadyou a long time ago, so he knows exactly what happened to Hiei. Youri was beaten pretty badly by Kadyou. I'm not sure if he was like this before or if he suffered brain damage from his injuries."
Youri exited the cave, carrying a huge pitcher of water and several goblets. He poured water into each one, offering them to Kurama, Yuusuke, and Kuwabara. Each accepted gratefully. "Kurama-sama want Youri to give friend Hiei-sama water?" Kurama smiled and nodded, and Youri knelt beside the fire demon, gently sitting him up slightly and pouring a bit of water in his mouth and waiting for Hiei to swallow before giving him more.
Kuwabara shifted impatiently. "How long before that bastard shows up?"
Kurama looked up from where he was growing plants from the seeds in the pouch. "Hopefully never, once I send these out after him. Otherwise, who knows. We'll just have to stay alert." Kurama finished growing another plant. "This should be enough. I'll save some for if he actually gets here." The plants slithered into the forest."
"What are those?" Kuwabara asked.
"Special plants that I bred to hunt Kadyou. They're specially attuned to find his ki and destroy him."
Yuusuke frowned. "So you knew about this guy and didn't destroy him before? Like so he wouldn't have gotten to Hiei?"
Kurama sighed sadly. "I've fought Kadyou numerous times. Sometimes I barely escaped with my life, other times he somehow got away before I could kill him. I'd been planning to hit him since a few years before I died. After I died, I figured he wouldn't find me in the Ningenkai, so I continued to plan against him for after my ningen death. If I had known this would happen, I would have hunted him down before."
"What did he do to you?" Yuusuke asked. "I mean, to make you want to kill him."
Kurama looked away. "The same thing he did to Hiei, and to Youri." The fox's fist clenched. "Him hurting Hiei was unforgivable. This time I will destroy him. Once he gets here, even if I die, there is no escape. Not for him. You can all leave, but he'll be stuck here until he dies. The forest will never let him escape."
Youri suddenly piped up. "Youri is very happy that Youri will get to see Kadyou die. Youri has waited a long time to see it." The little demon stood up. "Hiei-sama shaking. Youri get Hiei-sama blanket." Youri entered the cave again.
Kurama hurried to Hiei's side. "Hiei? Are you awake?" There was no response from the fire demon. Kurama sighed, gently moving Hiei into a better position. He quickly popped the youkai's hip back into its socket.
Hiei cried out and struggled, his eyes opening. His crimson eyes were unfocused and glassy, revealing that he was barely conscious.
Kurama gently touched the boy's forehead, wincing as his friend flinched away from the touch. "It's us Hiei. You're safe. Nobody's going to hurt you anymore."
Hiei trembled and curled closer to Kurama. The fire demon didn't speak a word, and just lay on the ground shivering.
"I know you're cold, Hiei. Youri's bringing a blanket. You're safe now." Kurama ran a hand through Hiei's hair. "We'll get you to Yukina soon. Just hold on."
Hiei relaxed, smiling slightly. "Nmmm..." The fire demon's eyes closed as he fell asleep.
Youri ran out with a thick blanket, covering Hiei quickly, making sure that the blanket was tucked around the boy. "Youri bring blanket. Hiei-sama not be cold anymore."
Kurama smiled, standing up. "Thank you, Youri. Could you check for clothing in his size? One made of nice, soft fabric? When you find it, put it near the hot spring, along with some of my good soap and shampoo and a nice soft towel. Also some medicine and bandages for his wounds and the pain."
"Hai, Kurama-sama!" The little youkai disappeared into the cave again.
Kurama turned toward the forest as he felt a familiar and dreaded ki draw near. "Kadyou." The fox's face twisted in an angry sneer. "Come out, you coward!"
A tall white youko emerged from the edge of the forest, sporting a few cuts. "Well, if it isn't Kurama. Your plants were quite cute, but somewhat ineffective, as you can see." Kadyou cast a sidelong glance at Hiei's unconscious form. "The little one was a fun toy. Pretty little virgin. Breaking him in was amusing. He put up quite a fight for such a shrimp. Kind of like you did."
Kuwabara growled at Kadyou's use of his nickname for Hiei. Only I'm allowed to call the shrimp that. Not some creep like this! The ningen's clenched his fist angrily.
Yuusuke was shaking in rage, his aura going wild. This bastard will pay. With his life AND his soul. I'll make sure Koenma makes him pay!
Rage filled Kurama. "You'll never get away from here, Kadyou. You're dead!"
The older youko laughed. "I know that. I've known that my death would be by your hand for a long time. I just decided to hurt you as much as possible before you killed me. And I see that hurting your friend has hurt you more than raping you ever would have done. So I die content."
The silver youko glared angrily. "You die slowly and torturously. Such is the fate of my enemies."
Kadyou laughed harshly. "I said that I would die content, not easily. You'll have to kill me in battle, kowappa." The youko smirked. "Of course, if you lose, I'll kill the other ones and keep the little one as my pet."
Kurama glared angrily. Kadyou was right. If he lost, Yuusuke and Kuwabara would try to get revenge no matter what he told them to do. And if they lost...Hiei and Youri would be in Kadyou's grasp again, with no one to save them. I have to beat him...no matter what. Even if it means my death!
What? You wanted more? It'll come in the next chapter...This chapter was getting too long. If I can get all my homework done, I'll work on the next chapter...Two page paper each day...Not promising. Look on the bright side. There's always Spring Break. Oh yeah...Youri looks kinda like a house elf...So if you read Harry Potter, you get the picture.
On to Chapter Seven
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