Hey everyone! If you feel like hitting me, punching/kicking tar and feathering me, or any other way you think will hurt me, go right ahead. I deserve it. Let me jsut say this, those of you who are not in highschool yet, you're lucky and I envy you. Those of you who are in highschool, my sympathies. I know what you're going through. Those of you who have graduated highschool already, I hate you and you probably know what I'm going through...maybe. Anyway that little rant is my explanaition for the lateness of this chapter. Not a very good one, but whatever.
I just wanted to wish everyone, a very belated Happy Chanukah, an early Merry Christmas, a Happy Kwanza and and any other holiday that is going on during this time, Happy that. And to everyone, Happy New Year!
"Talking."
'Thinking.'
Dream
On with the story...
"Kind of stupid to have a mountain trail that ends halfway up the mountain, huh?" Yusuke commented.
"I guess they don't encourage much camping around here," Avi concurred with her brother.
"Yes, the stronghold is very well hidden," Botan said looking down at her beeping compass watch, "But we should be able to find it eventually by following Yukina's energy."
"Why are you still using that compass? Just follow my way. The Red Pinky String," Kuwabara waved his pinky around.
"The what?" Botan asked.
"Huh?" the twins looked at Kuwabara as if he just grew another head.
"The moment I saw her, my love stretched out and tied us together. You see," a red string tied to Kuwabara's finger appeared and out into the woods.
Naturally, Botan and the twins couldn't see it.
"Kuwabara that was so romantic," Avi gushed.
Yusuke punched her in the back of the head.
"Oww. What the fuck was that for, asshole?"
"Thank G-d you're back to normal. You just said Kuwabara was romantic."
"I did say that-Ow!"
Yusuke punched her again in the same spot.
Anime tears streamed down from the poor girl's face.
"Urameshi, if you're done beating up your sister, let's follow the thread of destiny tied to my love!" Kuwabara skipped into the forest.
Avi's tears stopped immediately. Her hands were still on her head, "Yusuke, thank you for punching me."
"No problem."
"This is unexpected," Toguro was standing up looking out a window.
The Toguro brothers, Tarukane and Sakashta were in one of many of Tarukane's lounges. On the wall next to the window, there were many expensive statues. A small coffee table was in front of the window. A bottle of wine was open. Tarukane sat in a leather brown chair facing the window. The seat next to him was unoccupied.
"Speak up, boy," Tarukane took the cigar out of his mouth.
"Hirue, who I sent to deal with the trespassers, is dead," Toguro continued.
Tarukane slammed his glass of wine down on the table.
"Hey! What kind of people you sendin' out there?! Bums off the street?!"
"I assure you, my men are all well picked," Toguro replied keeping his voice calm, "Whoever has defeated Hirue, must have unusual powers."
"Well unusual powers is what I'm payin' you for! Don't expect me to hand out the cash if you can't handle the job."
"You needn't worry."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you've said that," Tarukane got up from his seat, "But I'm not the kind of guy who gets satisfied off cheap talk."
"Oh?" Toguro turned towards Tarukane, "What do you suggest?"
"Come with me. You can prove your stuff," Tarukane began to walk out of the room, "Triple our security outside," he told Sakashta.
"Of course," Sakashta bowed.
"The Toguro brothers?" Koenma called out, "This is going to be messy."
"Oh yeah, I think I've heard of them. Aren't they on the Most Wanted List?" George the ogre asked.
Koenma had his chin rested in the palm of his hand, "This figures, I thought watching Hiei was bad enough. But now I can't even find him and the Toguros have shown up too!" Koenma's voice raised in pitch.
Aside from those worries, the TV screen wasn't working and Koenma had no way of watching Yusuke and Avigayil kick butt.
Tarukane had led Toguro to some other part of the dungeon. Strange creatures were kept in cages as if they were in the zoo.
"Well Tarukane, your tastes are unique," Toguro commented.
Tarukane chuckled, "Discovering you demons has been quite a pleasure," Tarukane began playing with a demon's tongue, "Gives me plenty of new things to spend my money on," he walked over to another demons cage.
This demon was behind a glass cage.
"Lights up," Tarukane called out.
The lights in the demon's cage turned on.
"This beauty's name is Helen," Tarukane explained.
Helen looked like a stegosaurus with a line of white fur traveling down her spine. A lion's mane of white fur surrounded her neck as well.
"Believe it or not, she's a human creation. Black-market genetic engineering. They were trying to make her into a weapon. But they could never control the gal so I got a pretty good deal," Tarukane turned towards Toguro, "I want you to kill her, barehanded."
Toguro stared at the beast.
'Surely he can beat those intruders, but he won't take on that beast,' Tarukane smirked, 'Giving me an excuse to drive down his price.'
"I don't feel like killing her," Toguro informed Tarukane.
Tarukane turned away from Toguro, 'I love a winning gamble. Especially when I bluff.'
The Toguro that was usually on the shoulder jumped down.
Toguro walked pass Tarukane. This bewildered the greedy man. Someone out in the code to the cage and Toguro went in.
"Hey!" Tarukane called.
"Of course, with my job, I do many things I do not enjoy," Toguro took off his coat.
Toguro wasn't wearing a shirt. His torso was well built like the strongest man in the world. All of his muscles were up to par if not more so.
Helen took interest in her new prey.
"What are you doing?! Are you fuckin' crazy?" Tarukane yelled from the door, "Who's gonna make Yukina cry me more jewels after Helen rips you apart! I didn't mean for you to go in there for real!"
"Then you shouldn't have asked. 30 percent of my strength. Yes, that should be more than enough for her."
"What?" Tarukane pressed his face against the glass.
Toguro's body began to get even stronger-looking, if that were possible. You could almost see the veins popping out of his skin.
Helen stood on her hind legs.
"Am I going blind or is he getting bigger?" Tarukane asked.
"I'm a very untalented apparition," Toguro explained, "The only thing I can do is change the size of my muscles."
Helen roared and brought down a claw. Toguro just dodged the arm and a small crater was created beneath his feet. Toguro hooked his left arm over his right arm.
"Hey, don't blame me," he apologized to the creature, "Blame the science that created you and the human who made me kill," he pushed on Helen's arm and the bone inside cracked. With his right arm, he punched Helen in the gut. Helen's body broke in half. Blood sprayed everywhere in the room.
"Not even the best of contracts justifies killing as cruelly as I have just done. I apologize to this creature."
Tarukane backed away from the wall that was dripping with blood and began laughing, "Get a load. I love this guy! Rips 'em in half and then he says he's sorry. Boy, you have to be my bodyguard. Top pay."
"I'll think about it," Toguro put on his jacket and walked out of that cell. The paler Toguro jumped on his shoulder.
"Seriously Toguro, now let me get this straight. You saying you only used 30 percent of your whole strength to do her in?!"
"Yeah, 20 percent probably would have done a cleaner job," he buttoned up the army green coat, "But I do tend to get carried away."
"Sakashta, get your ass to the telephone."
"Sir, I've already notified the black market," Sakashta let him know.
"That's not what I mean, dumb ass! Call the boys from the Black Black Club together."
"I see, sir. You wish to place a wager."
They moved to another one of Tarukane's offices.
"Think about it. I got the fight of the century in my own backyard. The Toguro Brothers' Gang versus the mysterious intruders. And since I'm the only one here who know Toguro's true powers, I'll be at a real hustling advantage. I'll bet the broad's jewels against my pals at the Black Black Club and double my fortune."
Toguro lit a cigarette, "Cheating your friends isn't exactly honorable."
"Hey," Tarukane countered, "When you're rotten like me there's only one thing you can do, spread your stink."
Two blue birds were on the windowsill of Yukina's cell. The ice apparition was sitting in a wooden chair still facing the wall.
"Please go. They're only going to kill you."
The two birds landed on her right shoulder. She stood up and began swatting the two birds away.
"Please! Get away! Get away! Go! Please!"
The two birds flew away from the window.
"Sweet birds, you can't come near me. No one can come near me anymore," Yukina began to cry silently, but no tears came out.
It was now dusk and our fab. four were still searching for the mansion.
"Yukina!" Kuwabara cried with his pinky out.
"Wait, Kuwabara! It's this way!" Botan yelled at the boy.
The orange haired kid jumped into the brush the opposite way Botan was pointing.
"Yeah, but I just got a really bad feeling. Let's go around."
"My compass says follow the path. We don't have time for detours," Botan began walking and tripped over a wire. It got caught around her leg and hoisted her up in the air. Her backpack fell off. Yusuke ran to grab her before she was all the way up in the air.
"Botan!" Yusuke called.
"Whoopsie!" Botan laughed. She was caught in a giant spider web.
"You get caught in a trap and all you can say is whoopsie?!" Avi called walking over to her brother.
"A little help?" Botan asked.
Red eyes glowed next to her as the spider demon appeared next to her. It looked like a normal spider but gigantic. It was a bluish gray with black stripes. The first pair of legs was actually hands and the spiders head had blonde straight hair.
Botan screamed.
"What a nice catch!" the spider demon admired.
"Ooh. It's a spider this time," Yusuke was delighted, "Hey, let her go!"
Kuwabara ran over.
"Go?" the spider looked at Botan, "Now why would I let her go if I'm planning to drink her blood? If you want to save her you'll have to come and fight me in the evil spider's lair!"
Kuwabara already extended his Spirit Sword and swung it between the spider and Botan.
"Sorry to mess up your plan, but no one's getting between Yukina and me!" Kuwabara began cutting the web away.
Botan feel and Yusuke caught her in his arms.
The spider jumped down, "You can't possibly be human!"
"Yup!" Avi grinned.
"We just happen to be really, really tough," Kuwabara added.
Yusuke put Botan down.
The two "hands" that the spider had, turned into spider legs.
"Pardon me if I make this quick," Avi said raising her right fist that was glowing with Spirit Energy.
The spider jumped into the air and lunged at Avi. When the spider was close enough, Avi swung and created a hole in the spider's abdomen. Blood spurted everywhere and the demon was dead after several twitches.
"Nice hook," Botan complimented.
Avi shuddered, "Thanks."
"If this detective thing doesn't work, maybe we can try exterminating eh, Avi?" Yusuke joked, "Avi?"
"Eww. Eww. I have spider juice on my hand. Eww. Eww," Avi freaked out.
"…Or not," Yusuke sighed.
"Hahaha," Koenma laughed sarcastically at Yusuke's joke.
"It's getting dark, sir." George took not of the time of day.
"How's it going?" Kurama asked entering the prince's office.
"It's going. You locate Hiei yet?" Koenma asked.
"No, I'm afraid he never came back."
"Well, it was just a matter of time before he found out about the mission, I guess."
"Uh, if mind if I ask a question about that, sir?" George asked.
Koenma turned to him.
"Well why does Hiei's sister being kidnapped have to be a secret from him? I mean doesn't he deserve to know?"
"Moron! Once Hiei knows, he'll barge into the compound slashing his sword at everyone in sight. He'll know no doubt feel the need to execute everyone including the servants and the family dog! The family dog will be unfortunate. But the humans, well, it's a serious crime for demons tot take human life no matter what the circumstances. You know that."
"It's best not to worry. Even if Hiei is heading for the compound, I'm confident he will work with Yusuke and Avi," Kurama said.
"I'm surprised you're so calm, Kurama, since if Hiei does any harm, you'll be punished with him."
Kurama laughed slowly.
On the screen the fab. four built a fire and were camping out.
"Well," Koenma slid off his chair, "You'd better come tuck me in. we'll record the rest on tape."
"Yes, sir," George followed Koenma out of the office.
Hiei landed in a tree branch right near the "campers". His ruby eyes were looking down on them.
Hiei looked all drowsy and was laying with his wrists locked on a table. Above him was a machine. Hiei did not have his cloak or bandanna on and he did not have his Jagan Eye. A demonic surgeon was peering over him.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" the doctor asked, "The fusion between you and the Jagan Eye will be much more painful than you can imagine. I have to lock you down to the table to keep you from ripping out you own eyes. I have earplugs for myself."
"Heh. I won't say a word. Just do it," Hiei stubbornly said.
"Everyone screams. The only question is, what will you say?"
The machine began to descend and a drill of some sort came out of it. A flash of his sister Yukina came to his eyes.
"Yukina!" Hiei sat up from the tree branch. Sweat was dripping down his forehead and it took him a few minutes to steady his breathing.
"Did you hear something?" Botan asked.
"No. would you get up Kuwabara!" Avi kicked him.
Kuwabara yawned and stretched. He looked up at the tree where Hiei was. Hiei vanished from sight though.
"All of the members of the Black Black Club have been notified of the meeting, sir," Sakashta informed Tarukane.
They were in another one of his many rooms. Tarukane was sitting in a chair with the Toguro brothers standing to his right and Sakashta pouring a glass of wine to his left.
Five big screens were facing Tarukane as one by one each of the Black Black Club members showed their face.
"How ya doin' boys?" Tarukane took a sip of wine, "Must admit I'm surprised to see all five of ya on such short notice."
"I for one would meet even on my deathbed," said man one. He was bald. He was wearing a red suit with yellow tie and had a German accent.
"Well said! This is our only means of entertainment," said man two. He had gray hair and was wearing a blue suit and red tie.
Man three was African American and was also sipping wine, "Yeah, world's gotten too clean to have fun anywhere else."
Man four was bald and had a white beard and glasses. He was dressed in a hakama.
Man five had long black hair and a scar going down the top of his right eyebrow to his right cheek. He had on a black suit and blue tie.
"Well fun, gentlemen is exactly why I called you today," Tarukane explained, "As we speak, intruders are heading towards my house," another screen to Tarukane's left lit up and showed the four teens walking through the woods, "So, let's start a betting pool on if they make it," he continued, "Or if my security beats them."
"Well that would hardly be a challenging proposition, Tarukane," said man one, "We have no reason to believe that these intruders can survive your demons."
"Wait, let me give out more information before you decide. Hit it."
Sakashta bowed, "The situation is really quite simple, sirs. There are four intruders. They are walking through our forest to our stronghold," the screen changed showing a map. Little red dots in front of a building and four dots in the woodsy area, "Twelve from the Apparition Gang are moving to stop them."
"Come now, they're children," Man one said, "I don't know why you're so anxious to give away money Tarukane, offering a gambling pool where the odds are so ridiculously stacked. Have you gone mad?"
"Let's get on with the biddy. You got two choices. Pick either the demons or the intruders to win. Sakashta will show you the stakes."
Sakashta removed a blanket off a pile of money, "In the event of a win Mr. Tarukane will pay double of what you bid."
"200 million on the demons," Man one bid.
"Same here," Man two wagered.
"Yeah, yeah. Same for me!" Man three agreed.
"300 million on the demons, please," Man four bid.
"News has been circulating recently about two human boys and a human girl with extraordinary Spirit Energy. It is said that they have defeated the Four Saint Beasts as well as the human-hunter Rando, extremely powerful demons. There is a very good chance these intruders are those boys and girl," Toguro told Tarukane, "And if they are…the first group of fighters in my Apparition Gang will suffer most unpleasantly."
'I'm going to make a fortune,' Tarukane laughed, "You're the only one who hasn't bet, Sakyou. Tell me you're not getting' cold feet."
Sakyou exhaled smoke from his cigarette, "I will wager 5 billion on the intruders' victory."
Tarukane's eyes grew large.
"That's absurd," Man 1 cried.
"Yes, absurd," Man two agreed, "A quadruplet of human misfits can't take on twelve different demons."
"In normal circumstances, no," Sakyou explained, "But I have a certain little hunch. I've heard a rumor about two boys and a girl who have been hunting down demons. And I believe it's a risk worth taking."
Tarukane laughed, "Sakyou boy, you've always been a big gambler, haven't ya?" 'Sweet mother! Where'd he get that kind of information! I'll just have to hustle him better in the next round.'
Toguro suddenly turned his head.
"Huh? What's the matter?" Tarukane asked.
"Very strange. Six of my fighters' Spirit Energies have disappeared all at once."
"WHAT?!"
"They're even more impressive than I thought," Toguro rubbed his chin.
Tarukane look at the screen with the map on it. The screen was searching for the quadruplet.
Kuwabara sliced through some demons, "Piece of cake."
"Why are they even bothering with all these wimps?" Yusuke asked.
"I know, seriously," Avi agreed.
Botan rant to he twins with a beeping compass in hand, "They're desperate. We're very close to Yukina."
"Yeah," Kuwabara tied a bandanna around his forehead, "Let's go."
"What in the world are you tying to your head?!" Botan asked.
"The Great Fighting Headband of Love!"
"Riiight. I give you permission to hit me on the head again," Avi said.
But before Yusuke could whop her, another group of demons arrived.
"And all those guys there hate love! They want to try and keep me from my Yukina!" Kuwabara let out his Spirit Sword and charged a them.
Two demons jumped from a tree, "Stand aside evil doers," Kuwabara impaled a demon and slashed away at three more.
"You're not gonna be the only hero!" Yusuke ran and punched two of the demons.
"Great I get stuck with the big guy," Avi ran flipped in the air. She punched the demon multiple time as gravity pulled her down, "Thanks for givin' me the bigger target guys."
"2 x 5 billion is 10 billion, right?" Sakyou asked.
Tarukane growled.
"There's the stronghold," Kuwabara said as he saw the mansion.
"It's the same as the video. Yukina must be up in that tower," Botan pointed.
"Hold on my darling. You're brave man is coming," Kuwabara began walking.
Botan stopped the twins as they began to follow, "Take care of him. The compass is getting interference from three very strong demons. Don't let him rush in blindly. I'll go airborne and try to sneak a peek," Botan materialized her oar and took to the sky, "Don't worry about me."
"What do you think? Botan say's it's gonna be three nasty demons against little old us," Yusuke told Kuwabara as he and Avi walked up to him.
"It sounds good to me. One for each of us. This mission's felt different from the very start. It's like I've become invincible."
All three of them smirked.
"Well, shall we go boys?" Avi began walking.
"Fastest money I've ever lost," Man two chuckled.
"Very impressive. Obviously the members of the Apparition Gang aren't as frightening as I've been told," Man one sat back and crossed his arms.
"Don't dump your stock just yet, old boy. The next group a' demons are on a whole different level," Tarukane told them.
Toguro snapped his fingers, "They call themselves the Triad," as three demons appeared.
"Demon one…Miyuki." She had purple hair, light red eyes and a horn.
"Demon two…Inmaki." His whole face was covered except his eyes and ears by black cloth.
"Demon three…Gokumonki." He had three horns, yellow eyes and brick red skin with matching brick red hair that went from his eyebrows and beard to his actual hair.
"The Triad? Word is they're the toughest set of demons in the whole Apparition Gang!" Man two exclaimed.
"You must be forkin' over a lot of money for those kind of names," Man three seemed interested.
"He'll be in a real bind of those Hiruiseki Stones don't come through," said Sakyou.
Tarukane's eyebrow twitched, "Let's move on," he stood out of his chair, "You're second bet, the intruders or the Demon Triad!"
"500 million on the Triad," Man 1 bid.
"Yeah, gimme 300 million on them," Man two wagered.
"Me too," Man three agreed with man two's bet.
"Yes. Same for me," Man four bid.
"20 billion on the intruders this time," Sakyou wagered.
Tarukane gasped.
"What?!" all the Black Black Club asked.
"20 billion? On those humans?" Man 1 asked.
"Yeah, that Sakyou for ya. Doesn't know when to quit," Man three chuckled.
"Obviously that man is not thinking with his brain," Miyuki spoke.
"No one's askin' for your opinion, broad," Tarukane squeezed his cigar, "Just go do your stuff!"
"We'll take care of them," the Triad vanished.
"What a waste of a gorgeous home," Botan observed the mansion from a birds' eye view. She was checking her compass when a huge explosion came from behind her. This triggered several other explosions. Smoke was rising from the forest.
"What's going on?" Man two asked.
"Sounds like a fuckin' war zone," Man three commented.
"Don't be alarmed, boys. Those poor intruders must have met up with my land mines," Tarukane smiled.
"Avi! Yusuke! Kuwabara!" Botan flew around the entrance looking for them.
She saw a wall of fire in front of the gate, "Oh please."
The fire rose and she had to spin around to get out of the way.
From the fire came three figures. A sphere of Spirit Energy surrounded the trio, protecting them from the fire and blowing the fire out of the way. Their Spirit Energy was crackling and surrounding them. With Avi in between both boys, the trio looked at the house.
"Bingo!"
Yusuke and Avi gave thumbs up to Botan when she landed.
Sakyou chuckled.
"Who are these people?" Tarukane asked bewildered that three kids survived explosion after explosion.
The quartet went into the house. There was some purple carpet and fancy wallpaper. Then Miyuki appeared. She was a read Chinese dress that had a slit up the side. A purple sash was tied around her waist and a white long sleeved shirt was under dress.
"Hello there intruders, my name is Miyuki," she greeted them with a hand on her hip, "How'd you like a fight?"
Once again, I'm truly sorry for the lateness.
R&R.
Much love, and Gingerbread Cookies,
Avigayil Urameshi