Thank you for reviewing everyone! It really helps me. See? Updated twice in one day (sort of :P)!
"Damnit Fox. I ought'a find a set of hounds and hunt you down." Looking around himself though, Hiei realised that he did in fact have a set of hounds, only these 'hounds' were silver and in the shape of foxes, with noses far more sensitive than any dog's.
"We have not located him. Shall we expand the search area?" A nearby Youko shouted, and Hiei nodded a confirmation, watching the Youko leap off into the forest. He stopped on a branch and sought out any presences at all. He could feel Shiori and Hiroki back near the chamber, and the many different presences of the Youko spreading out before him. There weren't any unfamiliar presences at all, let alone a half-human Youko one. He paused as he was about to leap off again, and cast his Jagan eye out across the expanse of the forest around them. Even in one of the largest forests in Makai, there was no sign of any life but the Youko. He was suddenly aware of how silent it was, no trees rustling, no wind blowing, no life. Forests always harboured many different kinds of lower class demons, and occasionally some higher class ones, so why was this one empty?
Hiei was dragged from his thoughts at a soft sound, but in the silence it sounded like a gunshot. He turned at the noise of the twig cracking under a foot. There was a blur of red and then Hiei found himself shoved from the branch and hurled to the floor. He managed to restrain his hand from drawing his sword, and looked up after the rough impact with the floor to find himself being straddled by Kurama.
"Kurama! What do you think you're doing?!" Hiei asked, whispering out of the sheer weight of the silent atmosphere, almost afraid to break it.
"Hush, Hiei." Kurama whispered, his finger over Hiei's lips. Hiei silenced at once, his muscles tensing slightly at the touch of the soft finger. He mentally scolded himself, now was not the time to be thinking those kind of thoughts. "I need you to do something for me." Hiei looked up to Kurama and noticed an unusual air of discomposure.
"Anything." Hiei spoke without hesitation.
"I need you to take Shiori and go back to human world. Now. You need to seal the portals. Tell Koenma to use the emergency seal. Please, you have to leave." The urgency in Kurama's tone was obvious.
"But why?" Hiei had no intention of leaving Kurama behind again, especially not when he knew there was something serious going on.
"You promised me, Hiei. And if my Mother dies here, it will be your fault. You bought her here in the first place. If you don't take responsibility for your actions, then you'll be letting her die, and I would have to kill you." There was something about Kurama's demeanour that made Hiei shiver. He knew he was being told the truth.
"But I can't just leave you. I won't lose you again. Kurama, I…" Kurama looked down, sudden tears moistening his beautiful green eyes. "I love you." There was a moment of silence.
"I love you too, Hiei." Hiei knew Kurama was being honest, but he was already tense. "And I know you don't want to leave, but please. Save my Mother." Hiei cast around desperately for arguments.
"Why can't you take her yourself? What's so bad that the portals have to be sealed?" Hiei could feel his own anxiety rising.
"The two answers are linked. Please Hiei, time's running short. The portals close in emergencies of their own accord, but that would already be too late! You have to go!" Kurama leapt off him, pulled him to his feet, and shoved him towards Shiori's presence. "Take that Youko with you, take Hiroki. If what I think is going to happen does, then he'll be able to help you find me. Go!" Kurama shoved Hiei again and leapt off in the direction away from the portal. Hiei watched him go for a moment, torn. This was why he hated emotions! They always created ridiculous dilemmas! He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. It sounded like Kurama expected to survive whatever this was, but apparently humans couldn't. Hiei leapt off in the direction of Shiori and was there in a flash. Hiroki was standing protectively in front of her when Hiei arrived.
"We have to go, all of us. Now." Hiei stated, grabbed Shiori's arm, and leapt off towards the portal with Hiroki in tow. They exited the portal near Genkai's temple and were soon on the doorstep. Hiei let go of Shiori and shoved back a door. Genkai stood pouring Koenma a cup of tea while Boton, Keiko, Yuusuke, Yukina and Kuwabara sat sipping some sweet juice.
"Hiei!" Yuusuke shouted, obviously ready to start a fight. "What's the idea shaking me off in the forest like that? And then taking Shiori off somewhere?!" Hiei ignored him completely and went to Koenma.
"Kurama said do an emergency seal on the portals. Now." Koenma's mouth fell open, and his pacifier fell to his lap. Yuusuke's angry expression dropped.
"What? You found him? Why does he want the seal?" Yuusuke's questions went unanswered. Koenma grabbed his pacifier from his knees and ran outside. He'd been giving Kurama more assignments as of lately, with Hiei in Makai and Yuusuke spending more time with Keiko, and Kuwabara doting on Yukina and working on his studies. He'd instructed Kurama only to instruct an emergency seal if the earth was in immediate danger of Makai activity. He knew it was serious. Lifting his pacifier, everyone watched as small shards of light flew off in all directions. Hiei could feel the portals close one by one. The silver Youko seemed to sense the same.
"What else did he say?" Koenma asked, the seal done. "That will only last for twenty minutes at most."
"He didn't say anything else. Just that he could bring her himself and that was linked to the portals being closed. He said that the emergency procedure of the individual portals would be too late. He didn't what it would be too late to stop." Hiroki grabbed his head and shook it violently. Boton stepped back, eying the kitsune suspiciously. Shiori grabbed his arm.
"Hiroki! Are you alright? What on earth is going on? Hiroki!" Golden eyes glinted in the direction of the nearest portal.
"The portals' seal strains against the power of Youko. My clan… It's all fighting. The energy being released is huge… But at it's core… something…" Hiroki's voice lowered into a growl, "Something's manipulating the clan's energy at its very heart. The only thing that could do that is…" Hiei knew he didn't want the sentence to finish. He knew exactly what Hiroki was going to say, and he wished with all his heart that he was wrong.
"…Kurama. Only he has our combined power. We were all working together to keep him sustained. He's disbanded the energy. Mine is only contained because I am not exposed to his."
"Wait!" Shiori shouted, gripping the Youko's arm tighter and glancing to Hiei. "You mean the bond is broken? Your energy isn't sustaining him anymore? So what happens to Suichi?!" There was a brief moment of silence, and Hiei closed his eyes against the stinging tears.
"Without our energy, he will fall back into the condition in which we found him." Hiroki seemed to be holding back his own tears, lifting an arm to wipe his eyes harshly. "We all combined our power to save him. Without that, he won't be saved again. We didn't want to lose him again. And now, after hearing all the wondrous things he has done for Ningenkai and Makai alike…" He trailed off.
"Why would he release the energy in the first place though?" Yuusuke asked, but received no answer. There was a long silence that seemed to last much longer than it should have done. Finally Hiei spoke, hesitant and hopeful.
"Maybe we can ask him. Has it been twenty minutes yet?" Kuwabara checked his watch and shook his head.
"Nah. Only just gone five."
"Damnit. I'm going to the portal to wait anyway." Hiei stated, and leapt off, pausing at the edge of the temple. "Kurama asked that Hiroki and I go look for him. You should stay here."
"You better bring him back." Yuusuke threatened.
"Please, Hiei. If anyone can save my son, you can." Shiori smiled weakly, and waved as Hiroki and Hiei leapt off into the trees towards the portal. Keiko put a comforting hand on her shoulder, and Genkai walked back into the temple.
"It seems we'll have to wait a while. Let's make some fresh tea."
"Damnit. This is taking so long!" Hiei swore, and Hiroki smiled understandingly. The sealed portal glowed ominously above their heads.
"But what can we do once we get there?" Hiroki asked, his mind racing despite his cool exterior.
"We find Kurama and help him." Hiei answered simply.
Alright people, I think that was a slightly longer chapter. Review for me as a reward :P
Seriously though, I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to make this one, I may wind it up shortly but I have a few more ideas to extend it. What would you prefer? Think it's long enough, or do a few more complications sound like a good idea? Let me know!
