Hello again readers! I apologize for the long delay of this chapter, I have been unusually busy this winter break and I have been having problems with my internet. But, better late than never, I suppose! And a great many thanks to my Betareader, Diamondsinthenight, for editing my story, I greatly appreciate it. Anyway, enjoy the story and happy reading!
Guards' shouts filled the air as they sensed the heir approaching. Shouts of "Open the gates!" and "It's Heir Hiei!" were heard 50 meters away as demons scramble to obey orders and stand at attention.
Hiei snorted in annoyance, flitting past the guards, keeping the girl in his arms concealed as much as possible. Not that the guards would pry, for fear of a sword through the chest, no, it was only to keep curious eyes from seeing and rumors from spreading. Hiei glared fleetingly at such eyes, which quickly averted their gaze. Stopped briefly before the guards at the large fortress doors, Hiei looked pointedly at one, fiery red eyes dared a challenge. "You are to allow my teammates entrance when they arrive, understood?" Hiei practically growled at the guard, who nodded minutely.
"Understood, Lord Hiei."
Nodding, Hiei flitted inside, blurring into the throne room, before a calm Lord Mukuro, who jumped to her feet as she saw her heir carried what seemed to be a very weak demon girl. "Mukuro," his voice showed some trace of urgency, but nothing more as he spoke. The single word gave the Lord all she needed to know and she turned, walking briskly to a door, not needing to wait to know the demon followed.
"The tanks are all empty, I assume your teammates are close behind. Is this the only in need of healing?" Mukuro led them through a series of twists and turns, and arrived finally in a room occupied only by four large tanks and what seemed to be a control panel.
Hiei grunted. "As far as I know." He waited impatiently, as always, as Mukuro hastily fiddled and bent over the control panel. There was a soft click and whirring sound as one of the tanks opened, revealing simply an empty space, with only a ledge jutting out from the back wall, almost a meter from the ground.
Without prodding or delay, the fire demon stepped over to the open tank and gently set the unconscious girl on the ledge. In a blur, the cloak was withdrawn from her body, to be tossed to the ground.
"You'll need to take those clothes off her, they'll get in the way and they might contaminate it." Mukuro commented as Hiei set the girl inside, not even looking up from the panel, focused on her own task.
"I know." Hiei snapped as he stripped the girl of her so-called clothing. Holding his charge steady, lest she fall over, he glanced over at the lord as he attached the breathing mask in place.
"Almost, Hiei, just a few seconds." Mukuro drawled, knowing her impatient heir's question without asking.
In that moment, the door jerked open to allow a certain redhead inside. "Hiei? How is—" the fox demon stopped as he saw his partner supporting the girl in the tank.
"Calm down, you over dramatic fox," Hiei grunted as Mukuro nodded to him and he stepped back from the chamber.
The door hissed as it slid up to the top, shutting and locking with a click. The three onlookers watched as small, vine-like mechanical wires wrapped themselves around the slumped over occupant as a transparent light-green liquid slowly filled the chamber. Mukuro fussed over the controls as the wires coxed the limp body to stand in the center of the rush of liquid.
Hiei glanced fleetingly at his comrade as the fluid lifted the girl's body slightly, filling the cistern completely. A soft cross between a sigh and gasp left the lips of the tense redhead. Bending down to retrieve his cloak, the fire demon strode over to his partner's side, offering some kind of support to the fox.
"Now," A voice cut through the silence softly, almost reverently. The two demons looked over to the ruler at the controls. "I believe there is some explanation behind all of this?" Tweaking the controls minutely until she was satisfied, the lord strolled towards the two demons. At Kurama's reluctantly opening mouth, she held up a hand, silencing him in a moment. "I do not need more than you are willing, I am just wondering if I am allowed to know how you came across this demon and what made you help her." She glanced at the girl in the tank momentarily. "As far as I know, she is not one of your team or any special family or even the spirit world."
Kurama stepped forward, nodding. "That is mostly true, Lord Mukuro. However, she is—"
"Mukuro. How many times must I tell you all to simply call me Mukuro in private?" The lord smirked. "You are, basically, part of my heir's family. Oh, Hiei, stop growling at me." She scoffed at the fierce growl emanating from said demon's throat. "You shouldn't be so stubborn."
Hiei snorted, glaring at the seemingly stupid lord.
Mukuro rolled her eyes. "Okay, Kurama, tell me more about this demon." She prodded gently but firmly at the smirking fox.
Kurama sighed. "I can't tell you everything, but I can tell you that Koenma sent us to rescue her from a slave lord. Yusuke and Kuwabara may still be back there taking care of the demons, while Hiei and I searched for her." Kurama worriedly wrung the bottom of his tunic in his hands, watching the inert girl floating in the water. "Koenma said she was important for something…" He trailed off, his eyes steadfastly fixated on the girl.
Hiei cut in. "Koenma said to get her and bring her back alive, so we did." He snorted as if to say 'there, see?'
Mukuro nodded. "Yes, alright, but why is she so—"
The door opened with a soft thud against the wall as Yusuke and Kuwabara came in. Rather boisterously, Yusuke jumped over to Kurama with a yell, draping an arm around the fox demon's shoulders. "Yo!"
"Hey guys, how is the girl?" Kuwabara, being the oblivious fool, asked the stupid question, earning him a few incredulous looks.
"You stupid oaf, she's in the regeneration tank." Hiei retorted, sneering at the tall buffoon, still wondering why exactly he was on the team in the first place.
"Hey, Shrimp! Can't a guy ask a simple damn question!?" Kuwabara yelled, storming over to the diminutive fire demon.
"Yusuke," Kurama called to his friend, ignoring the two quarrelling behind them, "What about the demons? And the fortress?"
Yusuke took his arm off Kurama, stepping to face the half-human, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "The fortress is all ruins now, there's no way they'll be able to rebuild it or salvage anything. We destroyed all of the lesser slave lords, that's for sure." He sighed a bit before continuing. "The walls came tumbling down on our heads when we delivered the last blow to the leader. I'm pretty sure we got him; I couldn't sense him anymore. We looked over some of the ruins, we didn't see anything that seemed like it was our guy, so I think he's buried beneath."
"Let's hope so, for her sake if anything else." Kurama said softly, getting a nod in response. "But, to be safe, we should keep a watch out for a while, he may come after her again."
"Why do you think he would, Kurama?"
The fox demon jumped a bit, too wrapped up in his worry to notice the demon lord coming up beside him.
"Geez, Fox-boy, relax a bit, we're all safe here." Yusuke laid a comforting hand on his friend's tense shoulder. Never before has Kurama acted in such an anxious way; it was both new and worrisome for the detective.
"Kurama…" Mukuro prodded, wanting an answer.
The redhead sighed; he couldn't get out of this one even if he tried. 'Might as well get it over with now.' He thought to himself. "The girl, Amane, we rescued her from a slave lord. I believe he has an invested interest in her, more than a slave, I mean, but not in a good way. I fear that, if he still lives, he will continue hunting her until he uses her for his purpose, which bodes ill for us, obviously."
"If he wants her, let'im try," Yusuke boasted, once again draping an arm around the fox's shoulder. "No one can defeat us."
"Yeah! You got that right, Urameshi!" Boomed Kuwabara from behind the detective, nothing could penetrate the pride and ego of these two idiots, not to mention their skulls.
"Baka!" Hiei growled, standing between the so-called fool and the demon lord. "If that slave lord comes for her, you won't know it until she's gone!"
"What's that supposed to mean, ya shrimp!?" Kuwabara yelled.
"Hiei's probably right, if he tries to recapture her, she may be long gone before we can do anything." Kurama's voice wavered a bit, breaking into a whisper. "If so, that spells disaster for all of us."
"Kurama, what's up with you? You alright, bud?" Yusuke observed the fox demon worriedly.
Kurama nodded, but his attention seemed to drift off somewhere else as his eyes stared down at nothing.
"Hey, what's eatin' you, fox-boy?" Kuwabara slapped the fox demon on the back. The fox stumbled forward a bit with a small yelp, startled out of his train of thought; of course, he was able to catch himself before he fell to the ground.
A gasp and a bubble of noise cut her off and she turned to see the girl in the tank, once peacefully floating, now writhing and flailing, bubbles coming from the tube to the air mask, taking in the liquid through a slit. Rushing over to the control panel, Mukuro hastily stopped the process, making the machine start draining, though the speed was not quick enough for the gasping and choking girl.
"Hiei!" Kurama yelled urgently, glancing desperately towards his friend.
Hiei dashed forward and smashed the pommel of his sword into the glass door. Shattering instantly with a rush of liquid, the glass fell like ice, as did the girl. Kurama gasped, watching the girl fall, not being supported by the rejuvenating water anymore and only the small cords wrapped around her, giving minimal support. Hiei threw his sword aside, having no time for anything more, and jumped up, snatching the girl in the air, bending over her to protect her from the falling shards as he held her up inside the chamber. "Detective! Get these damn cords off her!" Hiei shouted as he held the unresponsive body.
Running towards his teammate, Yusuke looked back towards his best friend. "Kuwabara, call Koenma. Have him send Botan, now!" Tossing the small, pink communicator device towards the taller man, he turned back to the fire demon; not bothering to make sure the orange-haired man caught the device. "Hold her steady, Hiei." After ripping the malfunctioned air tube apart, Yusuke pulled and tore at the cords, grunting in agitation at the amount of them. "Damn it already!" Frustrated, Yusuke focused his ki on his hand.
"Yusuke! You'll destroy the machine!" Kurama's voice of reason called out from where he was, helping Mukuro at the control panel. "You're too close!"
"Shit!" Yusuke cursed, brazenly, then his eyebrows shot up and a smirk crossed his face. "Got it. Hiei, hold her tight, she's gonna fall."
Hiei only grunted, rolling his eyes as if to say 'no shit' as he held the girl tighter, one arm on her waist, the other higher up on her back. "Hurry up, detective, I can't tell if she's breathing or not."
Yusuke nodded, "It'll just take a second." Reaching farther inside, he grabbed the cords supporting her back and head. At their connecting point to the tank, his hand glowing, he yanked hard, ripping the cords apart from the tank. The girl in Hiei's arms slumped forward in his grasp. Turning, Yusuke did the same to the cords supporting her right arm, which fell to her side, and then did the same for her other arm. Hiei adjusted her in his grasp so that she was lying almost flat against his chest, cords still encircling her. Leaning down, Yusuke hurried to do the same for the girl's legs. "There, all clear." He said as he stepped back out of the chamber.
Hiei stepped back out carefully, trying not to jostle the girl too much. Once he stepped clear of the glass shards, he lowered the girl to the ground on her back. Leaning away, and with a flick of his wrist, he tore the air mask from the girl's face. Shifting as he felt the detective crouch next to him, he began untangling the cords from around the girl.
Kurama let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding as he saw and heard the girl on the ground cough. Kurama knelt down to the ground beside his friends and the girl, turning her over onto her side; he brushed her hair away from her face, letting her cough the water out of her lungs.
Kuwabara closed the compact and knelt next to his best friend, looking across to the redhead. "Koenma said he's sent Botan through the nearest portal, she'll be here in a few minutes."
Kurama gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Kuwabara."
"You should get her into bed," Mukuro spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to where she stood, examining the machine. "She was in there long enough to heal most of her wounds, but even so, she will most likely panic if we put her in another tank." Mukuro turned towards the group. "The medicine within the water will ensure she doesn't wake for a good hour or so. I have a spare room she could use."
Kurama smiled minutely, nodding respectfully. "I… she would appreciate that, I think." Carefully, as if she might break, the fox demon picked up the smaller youko, cradling her tenderly against his chest. "If you would be so kind?" He spoke softly, tilting his head towards the door.
Mukuro nodded, "Certainly." With that, she led the human guised youko out the door.
All the while, Yusuke and Kuwabara exchanged curious glances with each other. Turning towards the fire demon, Yusuke gave him a questioning glance. Hiei only shook his head and flitted off, probably to follow his Lord and the fox demon. Yusuke sighed. "Damn, what is up with them? Seriously!" The oblivious orange haired human grumbled, exasperated.
Yusuke stood, a determined look on his face. "Come on, Botan should be here soon." He stalked out of the room, his friend following.
Botan's hands glowed over the unconscious youko's chest for a moment more, before she withdrew them, pulling the blankets to cover her slender shoulders and body. "Well, I've done what I can, there's only minor scratches now." She stood back from the bed, unrolling her sleeves as she looked at the hovering redhead, inwardly grinning. "She'll be fine in a few hours, but she'll need to rest for a day or two to recover her youki."
Kurama nodded as he brushed some hair away from the girl's forehead. "Thank you Botan."
"Hey, Fox-boy! I want my answers!" Called an impatient Yusuke from a chair across the room.
"Yeah! What's going on, here?" An obnoxiously loud Kuwabara bellowed, earning him a quick glare from green eyes.
"Kuwabara," an eerily calm voice scolded, "please keep it down. And, I've told you, Yusuke, I'll answer your questions when I wish to. You'll have to wait un--" Kurama turned, a soft moan calling his attention to the figure on the bed. "Ah, you're awake finally." Kurama's sweet tone was obviously teasing as he watched tired eyes blinking open.
"You… I know you…" The youko winced a bit at the hoarseness in her voice, her throat feeling rough and dry. "Where…"
"Here, some water." The redhead held a cup for her to drink from, helping her to sit up with an arm at her back. Laying her back down when she finished, he set the cup to the side. "Good, you at least remember us rescuing you. You need not worry, you're in Lord Mukuro's fortress."
Startled eyes whipped up to look at the redhead. "What!? Why…" She pushed herself back a bit, fumbling, trying to sit up or back away from these apparent strangers.
"Calm down, it's alright, you're safe." Kurama reached out to comfort the youko. Yusuke stood to try and help, only making her jerk her head in his direction and panic even more, though now, she just froze. Kurama laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, only to feel her trembling. "It's alright, that's just Yusuke, he helped rescue you."
"Yu-Yusuke…"
The spirit detective nodded, grinning. "Yup. Urameshi Yusuke at your service." He tried to seem relaxed and non-threatening. "What's your name?"
"Amane." The youko looked back at the redhead hovering over her. "Who are you?"
Kurama inwardly winced, but smiled sweetly, patting the young fox demon on the head softly. "My name's Kurama." He gestured over to the fire demon on the window sill. "Hiei over there, and I were the ones that took you from the cell, remember?"
The youko nodded minutely. "I remember… Kurama…" Her eyes flashed a bit with something unrecognizable before it went away.
Kuwabara popped up beside Yusuke, making Amane flinch and sink back into the blankets. "Yo! I, Kuwabara Kazuma, will do anything I can--" Kuwabara bellowed unpleasantly, frightening the girl more.
"Baka! Fool!" A shout came from the window sill, "Can't you see you and your obnoxious voice are scaring her?" Hiei glared at the orange-haired human.
"What did you say, shrimp!?" The 'fool' yelled back at the fire demon, shaking his fist.
"Children!" Yusuke yelled, "Cut it out! You're scaring her!"
Both fighters glared at each other for a moment, turning away with a huff and mumbles.
"Kurama. I want to talk to you." He nodded toward the door. "Afterwards, Kuwabara, get Botan to get you back to Genkai, let her know what's happened.
Kurama sighed, but followed, turning to the youko for a moment. "We'll be back in a few minutes, okay? You stay here and rest." At the girl's nod, he followed the rest of his team out the door.
Yusuke turned to Kurama, arms folded across his chest. "Alright, Fox-boy, I want some answers."
Kurama inwardly sighed, leaning against the wall as he usually did, legs crossed at the ankles and arms crossed lightly over his chest. "I concede, Yusuke. What do you wish to know?"
Oh, I left you hanging, didn't I? Yup! I thought it was a good place to stop. Anyway, please review if you like it. I love reading them. If you have any suggestions or theories for my story, please do send me an email or write them in a review, I really get inspired by them, and I most likely will use them, if you want.
Keep reading! I shall try to post the next chapter in the next week or so, so keep an eye out! See you next time!