Everyone sat assembled in the center of Genkai's temple. Even Koenma was present. Valkarie had combined his conscience with Kary's. Hiei had watched as the pain in her head had annoyed her to the point where she laid down for a little bit. After that she had one brown eye and one blue. She had told them whatever Valkarie impressed on her mind, leaving them all to think it over.
"That's an interesting thought." Genkai said. "It makes sense. Itsuki disappeared with Sensui when he died. He did say he wished Sensui was his lover. Then Sniper disappeared."
"I remember when Sensui asked about Valkarie. He wondered what happened to the Ice Dragon. I didn't know he had merged with a human. The Fire Dragon must have also." Koenma said. He looked to Kary. "What do you suppose we do?"
She was silent a minute, obviously listening to an internal voice. She finally looked to Hiei, who nodded then to Koenma. She and Hiei had talked it over about what should be done. She sighed and rubbed her neck in agitation. "Open a portal and bring Yomi and Mukuro here."
"What!" Kurama exclaimed. "You can't be serious. You don't know how powerful they are."
'Kary." Hiei said, his voice ringing in the blue dragon's mind. 'You have to tell them.'
She looked at him, eyes all blue instead of multicolored. "It would be a blood bath if we did that. Once Yomi learns a person's voice, he can hear them no matter where they are. Don't get me started on Mukuro." Yusuke said.
"Do you have any better ideas?" Kary snapped, showing the fact that Valkarie had taken over completely. It seemed he did that when she was uncomfortable or scared. Everyone grew silent. "When Yusuke became king of his territory, and yes, I know about that, he put together the Demon Tournament, therefore destroying the other two lords' armies without raising a single hand. There is no doubt in my mind that Itsuki has raised an army that lies in wait for our attack so they can destroy us. You think Sensui was bad at opening a portal to Demon World. Try Itsuki. The Kakai Barrier's already in shambles. Unless you want demons that rival Yusuke roaming around, I suggest you give me a better answer."
No one dared argue since it was Valkarie was the one in charge, not Kary. Hiei was smirking when he realized his plan for absolute control of the situation was working. A little too well, though. He glanced at Koenma. This had caught the prince off guard.
"Fine." He said. "Bring Yomi and Mukuro here on the double."
Hiei walked over to Kary when everyone walked out. She was holding her head as Valkarie receded into the back of her mind. His hand went to her back concern filtered in for some odd reason. She jerked away as if being shocked.
"It would be better if you stayed away from me. I'm trying to live with this but you being around isn't making it any easier. Valkarie keeps whispering things in my ear. So, please…" She stopped talking and closed her eyes.
"We're all in this together, Kary. Valkarie, who is part of you now, brought this up and opened our eyes to what's really going on. We can't leave you and your sister alone just yet." He replied.
"I don't know."
"We need to watch your back." She looked away from him. He pulled on her arm. "Come on."
There was a loud snap outside. Hiei stopped in front of her to gauge the situation before walking out, her directly behind him. There was Yomi and Mukuro standing by the trees. When Hiei looked at Kary, her eyes had gone blue again. He knew she had been scared when they walked out but he didn't know it had been that bad. She looked over as Elly walked up to her, only it wasn't Elly. It was Selphina. Hiei stepped between Mukuro and the twins as Kurama did the same for Yomi. Selphina took her brother's hand.
"Do you think it's wise to be outside with no shoes in this weather?" Kurama asked as they stepped into the grass.
"I'm used to it." She said.
"Valkarie, don't do this." Hiei growled. When he/she ignored him, he stalked over. "Don't be stupid."
"Let her go, Hiei." Yusuke said. The fire demon did what he was asked but he looked at her.
"The dragons." Yomi said.
Selphina stepped between the two. "Valkarie, please don't fight. We're not here for that." Valkarie only looked at her. "I know how malicious you are when you fight, so please." Finally, when nothing was going to do anything, she grabbed the other's hand and led her away.
"So that's them?" Mukuro asked. It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah, their human names are Kary and Elly." Yusuke replied. "As you've noticed, Valkarie's more vicious than his sister. Word to the wise: don't mess with them."
"We'll meet in the temple in ten minutes." Genkai said.
"Why so long?" Yukina asked.
"That's how long it will take to calm Valkarie down." Kurama stated.
"I'll talk for her."
"You're the cause of that little outburst." Hiei growled at him. "Don't go there, Hiei."
The simmering fire demon disappeared down the same porch Kary had disappeared three minutes before. Everyone soon filed into the temple. Mukuro and Yomi had to sit outside the door because the guards Genkai had placed on the door wouldn't allow them access. Kary and Elly stood side by side as they waited. Kary's eyes were shifting between blue and brown so fast no one could tell who was in control.
"Do you care to explain why they have brought us here?" Yomi asked.
Elly's eyes went red. "As you may have found out, my brother and I bonded in these human girls. We have been hiding for the last seventeen years. As of late, we have been found and brought here for safe keeping. Now we have pinpointed who is behind all these attacks. Itsuki."
"Itsuki was the Gatekeeper two years ago. He opened the portal to Demon World. That's when the Mazoku awoke in Yusuke and what started this whole thing." Genkai explained.
"And the reason Hiei left my army." Mukuro said.
Kary's eyes, which were still going from one color to the other, narrowed. Elly placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yes," Genkai said, breaking the tension. "We have brought you here to side with us."
"Why would we do that?" Yomi asked.
"There would be an all out war if we didn't do it this way. Raizen's heir sided with us. It only seemed fair to ask you two. We would rather be temporary allies than long time enemies." Koenma replied in his diplomatic voice. It was the same voice that made him sound stupid.
"And I didn't want to have to kill you in my pursuit of Itsuki." That was Valkarie.
"Valkarie, isn't that a little bit too forward?" Kurama asked a little on edge.
Elly pushed her sister behind her. "Excuse my brother. He's slightly irritated and can't decide if he wants his human to regain control. When he gets this way, he has a mouth he can't control."
"I see." Mukuro stated. "So the human side is irritated at me?"
Valkarie scoffed. "In your dreams. She's more sophisticated than that."
"Admit it, human. You're fond of Hiei."
Valkarie's power flared when Mukuro put her arm around Hiei. He was feeding off Kary's pain. Selphina had to power up in her human form to hold her brother back. Kurama and Yusuke were on their feet helping to hold the enraged Ice Dragon at bay. Kurama tried talking gently until he saw the Koorime Snowflake glowing brightly.
Suddenly, Hiei was in front of him. He glared at the Ice Dragon with passive eyes. It took a few moments but the blue receded a little bit until it was just a rim around brown. Kary was back in control and looking at him. Finally realizing that Valkarie had been feeding off her emotions just then, she turned and moved to the corner of the room, hiding her face in the corner as a child would.
"Leave." Hiei growled. He waited until everyone had disappeared and the door closed before stalking over to Kary. He turned her around gently. "Don't let Valkarie use your emotions."
"His power is tied to them at the moment."
"Learning to control them so you can control him is the first state."
She shook her head. "It won't happen. His presence is too strong for me to resist. He's always there and yet he has no clue what he's doing."
Hiei tilted his head slightly. "What's with you? You've been distant lately. Not even Elly or Selphina can pinpoint your exact movement and she's your sister. I can understand Kurama, but Elly?"
"You don't see me mocking you do you?"
His temper finally flared. Trying to talk rationally was not working. "This is not mockery! You're endangering everyone, including yourself and your human, Valkarie. I won't let you hurt her or your sister."
That comment made Valkarie come back to the top. "Why do you care? You're just a fire demon who was put in charge of this girl to protect me. Why do you care what happens to her human shell?"
"It's not easy watching you use her to your sick and twisted end. You will get her killed. This is a gamble you won't win. By using her, you're going to get yourself killed."
After the brief confrontation the two dragons got into a scuffle. With Valkarie on the surface it was hard for Hiei to gain the upper hand.
"Stop!"
He was in mid attack when Kary's conscience came to the surface. Hiei hit her hard and ended up pinning her down with his body. When he pulled himself to his hands and knees, he looked down at her. She was tired but as he tried to get into her thoughts, he was blocked, no doubt by Valkarie.
Without thinking, he slid his hand under her head, pulled it up and pressed his lips to hers. It surprised him at how cold they were despite her being a warm-blooded human. He realized she had stopped moving. He pulled back. They stared at each other without saying a word.
"Kary!" It was Yusuke. "Get out here!"
Kary scrambled to her feet and out the door. There stood Sensui, Sniper and Itsuki right in front of Elly. The older twin had gone into a defensive stance that her sister would use. A deep growl came from Kary, signifying that Valkarie had once again taken control. Itsuki looked to her and smiled.
"Ah! This couldn't have turned out better if we had planned it. Both dragons together in one place." He said.
Sniper and Sensui left their master's side and jumped at Elly, only to be knocked by Valkarie's immense power. Itsuki took that chance to grab Elly.
"Drop her." it was a mixture of Kary's and Valkarie's voices that came from her mouth. Everyone who had been watching looked at her in surprise. This didn't happen often. One conscience usually overrode the other. Having them both coincide at the same time was unheard of and dangerous.
"Not a chance." Itsuki opened the portal he came through and disappeared with Elly/Selphina. Sniper and Sensui followed behind to make sure no one followed.
The blue receded from Kary's eyes as she sank to her knees. They had seen what had been discussed days earlier. Valkarie was definitely the stronger of the two yet also the most vulnerable. He could easily lose faith in himself if his sister was taken out from under his nose. Elly/Selphina was the most important person in her life and in an instant she was gone.
Kurama walked over and carefully picked up the grief-stricken dragon. She was colder than she had been and was closed off from all emotion. He carried her past everyone and towards her room on the far side of the temple.