Fugitive of Darkness

A Yu Yu Hakusho Fanfiction by Rain Darkwood

Disclaimer I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or anything related to Yu Yu Hakusho. Obviously. Point is, you know the drill. Hey, then again if your reading this, you probably don't either, so we're in the same boat, right? Whatever.

A note about my writing style: I write in the style of the English dubbed show in the US. Instead of using terms like Rekai, etc., I use Spirit World, etc. I prefer this, as it makes the theme more universal.

Chapter 1: The Mercenaries and The Hunt

Footsteps rang through the stone corridors and echoed off the ancient iron bars covering the windows. A figure ran through the cold passageway, breathing slowly but erratically as he ran. No sounds escaped his lips, and little sound was made by his feet and he swept up the flights of stairs with blurring speed. He stopped with as much dexterity and balance as he showed running, swaying to a standstill in front of an arcane-looking wooden door. He unsheathed a katana and slashed once at the heavy padlock, breaking it in two irregular chunks. He pressed and creaked open the heavy door, and light seeped into the room, though it had already been partially illuminated by its own inner light. As the door came fully open Hiei stood before its content: a glowing portal, the other side not visible, instead shrouded by swirling color that was undefinable in nature. Hiei stared entranced by it for only mere seconds... he knew waht was on the other side and had no reservations about jumping through. With a running leap he slid through like a fish in water.

It was a few minutes before two more figures stepped through the left-open door, walking calmly, with no illusions about catching their lost prey here. They both stopped abruptly, with the air of two partners who have known each other so long and so well that they truly work as one, even when not meaning to. One was tall, and built like a swordsman, athletic yet lanky. The other had the height of a small child, but an aura nonetheless of darkness and intelligence inherent only in those of great age. The taller of the two spoke first, in a voice that was monotonous yet hiding a flicker of humor.

"Well, I guess we know what to do now." He continued to stare fixedly at the portal.

"Try harder to hide your glee," the small one admonished. "You may not even fathom the strength of our adversaries, Koji. Show more cunning."

"Right, Kazunori. Forgive my weakness." He was now nearly unable to hide his laughter at all. The small one sighed heavily and stepped without hesitation through the portal. Koji followed, shifting his weight to allow the dual katanas he kept sheathed into the slim portal opening.

.......

Yusuke woke up feeling refreshed, an unusual feeling given that this was a schoolday. He had fallen asleep early the previous night from lack of sleep the night before, and this morning he felt simply great. He looked at the clock and was astonished to find he was up in time to be prompt for school. Nevertheless he took his time dressing and leaving, so that he arrived a few minutes late.

Yusuke was just going over the fact that he HAD felt fine that morning in his mind for the 13th time when the office secretary interrupted his third hour of class. Yusuke and his class all looked over at her in unison as she gestured for Yusuke. He followed her, convinced that it had to be Botan, only she would interrupt his normal life (which he had moments ago been annoyed by) to thrust him into the rollercoaster that was the life of a spirit detective. Much to his surprise, he entered the office to find a poorly disguised as human Hiei, cornered by school administrators and looking like a caged animal.

Yusuke couldn't help but laugh. "Hey there, Hiei, what's up?"

Moments later they were strolling the school grounds, more to humor the administrators' warning not to leave campus than to abide by it. Hiei took a deep breath, as if labored by the idea of speaking to Yusuke about his problem, and began:

"As I'm sure Spirit World officials have warned you, I was abducted last week."

Yusuke frowned and wrinkled his forehead with thought. "No, I'm afraid they haven't... maybe they didn't notice you were gone!"

"What?" Hiei seemed momentarily deflated, but continued nonetheless. "That's not really important. What's important is that my abductor is one of the Spirit World's Fat Cats, so to speak. A powerful man who calls himself Lord Damian."

Yusuke shrugged. "Doesn't strike a bell."

Hiei continued. "It wouldn't, would it, novice? Anyhow, he can afford the best in bodyguards, but he dabbles most in prize fighting, and that's why he abducted me."

"He wants you to be his little elven boxer, eh?" Yusuke chuckled, now slipping his hands into his pockets as they stood beneath a shady oak.

"He obviously wants the best. Anyway, his bodyguards are two spirit world mercenaries, a duo by the name of Koji and Kazumori. I'm sure someone like YOU hasn't heard of them, but allow me to enlighten you on the fact that they are truly the best at what they do."

"I've heard you speak so flatteringly of only one other person," Yusuke said with a thoughtful look. "...Kurama. How would they measure up to him? You told me yourself that you sought Kurama out in order to avoid fighting him yourself."

Hiei looked to the ground. "Well, that's different. Kurama is...different now, something I didn't expect when i sought him out. And I can't fully measure Koji and Kazunori's power, as they are a relatively new phenomenon, you could say. But I've heard some great stories. Gossip isn't like it is here on earth, in Spirit World. The stories I've heard aren't merely hearsay." He looked back up at Yusuke. "I escaped from Damian's castle, but of course, Koji and Kazunori are on my tail now. They've come to earth in pursuit of me, and I need some... help."

Yusuke couldn't stifle his laughter. "You...are asking someone for help? This is unbelievable. What did they do to you in there?" He began to look Hiei over in a mock analytical way. "They must have messed with your head or something...shock treatment or something."

"I don't know what this shock treatment is, but for god's sake stay serious here! You don't know what they're like...I met them while I was there, even if I haven't seen them fight. They're cold, and calculating... natural killers, the both of them."

"So they are like your kindred spirits!" Yusuke said. "Well, if you're really gonna fight these guys, we'd better find Kurama. He's probably hanging out with Kuwabara since he wasn't in school today, so I guess he'll end up coming along..."