They must be hiding her behind talasman cards like that human did before, Hiei thought as he kept trying to see her with his jagan eye. He looked for Kurama instead and found that he was at the edge of the forest with Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Botan. They're finally here, I'll make it to her before them this time, he thought as he jumped through the trees.


Yusuke asked, "Do you think Hiei's coming?"

"Why would shorty try to rescue my love?" Kuwabara asked.

Kurama said, "I'm sure of it. He's probably in the woods with us now somewhere, concealing his energy since I can't sense him."

Botan said nervously, "This Fujio demon is using humans as guards and butlers in this mansion he has so I hope he doesn't go too crazy once he gets there." Kurama's eyes glazed over as soon as he heard that name again.

"Kurama?" Yusuke asked nervously.

"You okay?" Kuwabara asked.

"If this is the same Fujio I knew years ago, perhaps not," he answered.

"What are you talking about?" Botan asked.


Centuries ago I worked with a cat demon named Fujio. He was quite wreckless and like me, could manipulate plants with his energy since he was also an animal spirit. It's common among them. Together we walked unknowingly into a trap. He fell directly into a pit of demon eating snakes. I managed to escape with minor injuries.

Because he was so wreckless, he was the only reason we were in that mess. If we had gone with my original plan we would have made it out just fine. Almost immediately we were surrounded by guards. I had a choice, either escape with my life or stay behind and try to save him while getting captured. I left him for dead and saved myself.


"Damn," Yusuke said, "demon eating snakes?"

Kuwabara asked, "And you just left him there?"

"If I hadn't I would have been captured for sure," he answered, "and my punishment would have been very severe-most likely death."

"Can this be the same guy?" Yusuke asked, "How could he even be alive right now?"

"That's what concerns me," Kurama replied, "if it isn't him this shouldn't be much of a problem. If it is him I'm not completely sure what his motives could be. Why would he want the artifacts of darkness, and why now after all of this time?"

Botan said, "Maybe it's someone else. I hope it's someone else."


Yukina stayed away from the walls of her cell. They were covered in the talasman cards that burned the skin off of her. "Sir we have the girl you requested," one of the guards said as he made his way to her cell.

"Good," the cat demon replied. He had long black hair, black car ears and a tail, and wore all white. He towered over her and looked down at Yukina. "You, ice maiden," he said coldly, "you know Yoko Kurama, correct?"

"Yoko Kurama?" she asked, remembering that was Kurama's true identity, "Well yes. Why?"

The cat demon replied, "Perfect, then this will work. My name's Fujio. Don't worry, I'm not actually going to harm you in any way. I just want Yoko to come."

"You kidnapped me," Yukina asked, "in order to get to him? Why not someone else?"

"True," he replied, "I guess I could have taken that ferry girl from spirit world or maybe one of those human girls instead. You work out just fine though, even more so since you're a demon. I heard these talasman cards hurt you, so don't touch the walls and you'll be fine."

At least with Tarukane I got a window to look outside, she thought sadly, here it's just a dark room. I hope Kazuma and the others can find me.


"Sir," one of the human butlers said, "we've spotted an intruder."

"Is it him?" Fujio asked, "Kurama?"

"No," he answered, "it's a fire demon running through the trees. One of our cameras managed to capture him but he's insanely fast. At this rate he'll be here within the hour."

Fujio asked, "A fire demon? I don't have any quarils with him. Kill him before he enters the building." He walked away.


Hiei jumped through the trees with ease as he got closer to the mansion ahead. Suddenly, a few pops rung throughout the air. Guns? he thought, These humans think they can stop me with guns? Hn. I'll show them.

He neared the grounds and saw dozens of humans with firearms aimed at him. He used his speed and knocked all of them out with his fists in seconds. He kept moving toward the building. More humans came in range and he kept knocking all of them out without drawing his sword.

Once he was in another clearing he looked behind himself with the jagan eye and saw that Yusuke and the others were still miles away. That's fine, take your time, he thought.