Yusuke was basically pouring it on now...that bastard Hiei was gonna pay for kidnapping Keiko! He would make sure of it. Botan was following behind him, keeping watch on the Compass. "We're close!" she said.
Yusuke nodded, "Good!" he said. They finally reached the warehouse where Hiei was hiding out at. They burst the door open. "Get out here Hiei! Yusuke yelled. I'm gonna kick your ass!"
Suddenly normal humans started coming forward...but they seemed completely out of it. Botan gasped, "They're being controlled!" she said. "But the sword couldn't control these many people...so he must have the Jagan eye!"
"Heh, very good.", a voice said. "Looks like we know who the brains are in this team." Botan lowered her eyes. "Hiei!" she said. "Come out now!"
Hiei appeared, smirking his cocky smirk as always. "Its impressive that you hadn't succumbed to the power of the Jagan.", he said. "The Spirit World fools picked pretty decent candidates."
Yusuke stared at the third eye right smack in the middle of his forehead. "..Thats some pimple.", he said.
Botan looked over to him, "It's his Jagan eye.", she said. "It can amplify his power greatly."
Yusuke scoffed, 'Big deal!" he said. "I'll still knock his stupid-ass out! Now give me back Keiko!"
Hiei laughed, "Now I wouldn't be going around making empty threats.", he said. "Not unless you don't care what happens to your precious Keiko. Now do you have the other two artifacts?"
Yusuke glared at him and held up the Orb and the Mirror. Hiei smirked, "Oh good boy.", he said, while Yusuke handed him over. "You may have her." The two controlled humans who had her let her drop to the ground. Yusuke's eyes widened, "Keiko!" he cried, running over to her.
Hiei just laughed in delight, holding the other two artifacts. :So what if my plan had a few set backs, the end results are still the same."
Yusuke smirked a bit, "..You shouldn't talk so much, it makes you sound stupid.", he said. "Now that Ive got Keiko back, all I gotta do now is rip out your teeth!"
Hiei smirked a bit, "I'd like to see you try.", he said, very confidently. He just laughed on again at him.
Yusuke glared at him. "You know, that cocky laugh of yours is starting to piss me off!" he yelled, charging at him.
Hiei suddenly darted away from Yusuke's punch. Yusuke blinked, "He vanished!" he said. Hiei smirked and reappeared. "I'm still here.", he said. I" only moved gently to the side. Was that a real hit? I was under the assumption it was a joke...oh wait, you're not amused." Yusuke glared at him...little cryptic bastard! Hiei just smirked once more, "Oh, and as for Keiko." he added.
Yusuke's eyes widened, "What?!" he yelled...what was he up to now?!
Hiei laughed, "Did you honestly think Id relinquish my hostage without the reward?" he said, mocking Yusuke. "Look closely at her Yusuke, you can see shes still mine."
Yusuke glared at him, "You're lying!" he yelled, running over to Keiko. He and Botan both looked at her, watching an ugly third eye form on her forehead.
Hiei laughed again, "Am I?" he asked. "You may have her body, but her future is mine. You see I struck her with the Shadow Sword. And once that eye opens...she becomes a demon! Not a very smart one I'm afraid, but perfect for a slave."
Yusuke's eyes widened. "No!" he yelled, watching the third eye on Keiko's head open. Botan jumped in front a bit, "Move!" she cried, using her energy to re-close the eye.
Yusuke looked over at Botan in shock, "What are-" he started. Botan looked back at him, "Ill keep the eye from opening!" she said. "Now you go punch his brains out!"
Hiei laughed at that, "You better punch them out quickly then if you care about your assistant." he said. He looked over at Botan, "I can feel her precious energy draining. Pity, her poor body is giving everything it has. Soon you'll have a girlfriend who's a demon and an assistant who's dead."
Yusuke gasped, "Botan, is that true?!" he asked...she was killing herself to save Keiko for him.
Botan cringed, "Don't...worry about me.", she said. "Just stop Hiei! It was sucking away all of her energy, but she kept going."
Yusuke glared at Hiei, "Oh thats it!" he yelled. Hiei laughed, "I'm glad you're so enthused." he said. "The game will be more exciting that way."
Yusuke blinked, "What game?!" he asked.
Hiei smirked and held up the sword, "The hilt of this sword is hallow.", he said. "Contained inside it is the only antidote to stop the swords effect. Get the sword, girl will live. Fun, right? Think of it as a little game of tag."
Yusuke glared at him even harder, "Bastard!" he yelled. Hiei laughed, "Be careful what you call me.", he said. "Don't forget I have dear little Keiko's life in my hands. I can make her transform anytime I want...and even if you didn't care about the girl, I have a back-up reassurance."
Yusuke blinked, "What are you talking about?" he asked. Hiei smirked and snapped his fingers, having his controlled humans bring out Mayu. Yusuke's eyes widen, "Mayu!" he cried...she was out cold. He glared at Hiei, "What did you do to her?!"
Hiei laughed, "Relax, I didn't lay a finger on her.", he said. "She's just asleep, nothing more. Of course I cannot guarantee it'll remain that way though."
..That was the last straw. Yusuke pretty much had all he could stand of Hiei. He leaped up and punched Hiei straight in the face, while Hiei had no chance to get away that time. It wasn't the punch that hurt him, but pretty much the shock of it. He knew Yusuke wasn't that fast before.
Hiei looked over at him, "What happened Spirit Detective, he said. You weren't that fast before."
Yusuke glared at him, "This isn't a game jerk-face!" he yelled. "Keiko, Botan and Mayu are my friends!"
Hiei narrowed his eyes a bit, "Now I see.", he
said. "You're a decent fighter on your own, but when your friends
are on the line your power increases greatly. You're a team
player...a save-the-day superhero...I hate people like you." Yusuke
just smirked...the feeling was mutual. Hiei just smirked,
"And
yes Spirit Detective, I admit you surprised me.", he said. "But
as a true amateur you failed to take advantage of the situation! You
didn't get back the sword, a mistake that will prove fatal! Because
now that I know it, I wont be dropping my guard any longer. The world
doesn't give many chances...you just missed yours"
Yusuke sighed, "Are you done yapping yet?!" he asked, getting impatient...all this guy did was flap his lips!
Hiei glared, "Not quite!" he said, getting ready to attack. He leaped and, at least to human eyes, seemed to have disappear. In truth he was moving so fast it was almost impossible to tell where he was. Luckily for Yusuke he wasn't just any human, and was able to pin his movements. He just punched him in his face again, sending Hiei flying forward.
Hiei stood back up, whipping some blood away from his lower lip. He glared at him, "Now you're dead!" he yelled.
Yusuke sighed, "See Hiei thats what I'm talking about!" he yelled. "Yap yap yap, like you're some crappy pro-wrestler! Than what happens? You have to eat up all your words! Its pretty dumb!"
Hiei glared at him and removed his cloak, not going to take that insult to his pride, "Consider this a compliment...Ive never transformed for a human before.", he said. With that, his energy started rising...Yusuke blinked...what was he up to?
Meanwhile Kurama and Tamaki were still walking back to Kurama's house from the hospital. Tamaki yawned a bit...the Mirror drained a lot of her energy, she was wiped out.
Kurama smiled over at her, "Tired?" he asked with a slight chuckle.
Tamaki giggled a bit, rubbing the back of her head, "A bit.", she said, walking beside him. Besides the street lamps, there wasn't much light around the street.
Kurama smiled a bit, "Were almost there.", he said, "You can go back to sleep when we get there."
Tamaki smiled a bit and nodded. Kurama kept walking...he owed Tamaki so much he couldn't even begin to describe it. She almost threw her own life away for him and his mother. He smiled a bit...since he became human, he had so many new priorities to protect. Protecting his mothers life seemed to be the most important thing...and now he had a new life he wanted to protect as well. He almost blushed when that thought crossed him...he couldn't deny it though, he wanted to protect Tamaki. Thats a normal thing, she did the kindest thing anyone could have done for Kurama. The part that made him embarrassed was...he couldn't tell if it was out of gratitude or just because Tamaki was...Tamaki.
Tamaki looked over at Kurama...he seemed lost in thought. She smiled a bit at him, being able to tell he was pretty happy. She felt good that she was able to save him and his mother. Everything just seemed to work out for the best...he got to live, his mother survived, and now she had someone who would care if she lived or not. It seemed like forever since she felt that there was someone who cared for her. Seven months and a few odd days she figured.
Kurama smiled back at her a bit...the moment didn't last too long before a big wave of energy hit him. Tamaki's eyes widened, "Whats going on?" she asked, feeling the energy. The amount of energy was enormous she almost threw up from it, feeling it tear her insides up.
Kurama recognized the scent, "It's Hiei!" he said. Tamaki looked at him, "But he's stronger!" she said. "He wasn't this strong before."
Kurama nodded, "Then hes transformed.", he said." He must be desperate to be in that form."
Tamaki blinked, "Then the Spirit Detectives are in danger!" she said. "We have to help them." she said, feeling it was their fault Yusuke and Mayu were in this situation to start with.
Kurama nodded, "Right.", he said, "Lets go then." They started running off, Tamaki using her sharp sense to lead them to Hiei's hideout. Botan was still trying to fight off Keiko's transformation, but with the monster within her feeding off the energy Hiei was emitting, it became difficult. Her hands were bloody from the sharp energy cutting at them. Yusuke was still fighting Hiei, but Hiei had the advantage.
..Hiei's skin was green, Tamaki had noticed, with eyes covering his entire body. His powers increased greatly with his unusual transformation. Yusuke was trying his hardest to fight him, but Hiei dodged everyone of his hits. Hiei landed a solid blow and sent Yusuke flying back against the wall.
Tamaki cringed. He didn't stand a chance without some kind of help. She looked over at Kurama, "I'll sneak in and cause a distraction.", she whispered. "You go help Botan stop the girl from transforming."
Kurama blinked, "Are you sure?" he asked. "Hiei isn't someone to take likely."
Tamaki smiled and nodded, "I'll be fine.", she said. "Hiei and I are about equal in speed, but I'm more flexible. I have an advantage over him, thats why he couldn't hit me."
Kurama nodded a bit, agreeing with it for now. Tamaki crept in with Kurama following behind her. Hiei had used red energy rings to bind Yusuke's arms and legs together and making him float in mid air.
Yusuke struggled to break free, .."Well this is new, he said. But maybe you could get me green ones, they'd match a lot better."
Hiei smirked a bit, "A joker to the end, aren't you?" he said. "Perhaps they need to be tighter before you can get serious." Hiei tightened the rings around him, causing Yusuke to fly up higher then smash into the ground hard.
Yusuke struggled to sit up, while Hiei walked over to him. He smirks, "You know, I have a great idea, he said. How bout I give you a choice?"
Yusuke glared at him, "What?!" he asked, not ready to accept any pity from this guy.
Hiei smirked and had the sword float into his hand, "I'm having a change of mind of what I said earlier.", he said. "I can end you're life now...or if you prefer I can turn you into a demon." Yusuke just glared at him...with his hands and feet trapped he couldn't do much to fight him off anymore. Hiei laughed, "Whats that?" he asked. "You want me to chose? Fine!" Hiei lunged at him, about to strike him down.
Tamaki finally decided it was time to make her presence known, "Sorry, but that choice is invalid!" she said, round-house kicking Hiei to the side of his head, causing him to spiral into the wall.
Yusuke blinked, "You?!" he cried in shock. "What are you doing here?!" Tamaki smiled, "I figured you needed a hand.", she said.
Hiei stood back up, glaring over at Tamaki. He looked over to Yusuke, "Sorry Spirit Detective, but it seems your death shall be postponed a bit.", he said. He looked over at Tamaki. "It seems she decided to volunteer to die first."
Tamaki narrowed her eyes, "You can try!" she said, standing in a new stance that Hiei had never seen her do before.
Mayu, who was out up till this point, finally woke up. Where the hell was she? She looked around and saw Yusuke tied up, Hiei green and covered with eyes, and Tamaki who looked like she was about to fight him off. Her first impression was it was just some bad dream..
..And then she looked at Tamaki's stance with wide eyes...she recognized it! Tamaki had learned the Ryun style! How could she had possibly know that style of martial arts. Kurama looked over at her, "What's wrong?" he asked.
Mayu looked at him, "Thats Ryun!" she said. "It's a lost style that hadn't been taught in nearly thousands of years. The original master of it died long before he could pass on the teachings, so no one could have had knowledge of its existence. How on Earth could she know it?"
Kurama blinked a bit, "What is the Ryun style?" he asked. Mayu looked back to Tamaki, "A style of which you need great movement, mobility, and flexibility, she said. Depending how far she learned into it she can either successfully dodge attacks or literally become invisible to the enemy's eyes for attacks...and with her demon energy boosting her, theres no telling how powerful it will be combined."
Kurama almost stared in awe...did Tamaki truly have that much power? He knew she was strong, but he had no idea how strong she really was.
Tamaki slid her foot into position. She counted in her mind...three steps...two steps...one step..., Now! she cried and in an instant Tamaki seemed to vanish. Hiei's eyes widen, where did she go?! Not even his Jagan eye could pick her up! Tamaki reappeared above him, sending her foot straight down into a solid straight kick.
Mayu's eyes could have popped out of her head...that was at least ten times the power and speed she had predicted, "Unbelievable.", she muttered. "She didn't just study the Ryun...she mastered it! And in such power."
Yusuke just grinned widely, "Oh yeah, now thats a good old fashion ass kicking!" he cheered. "Now if you can just get me the hell out of these weird ring things we can pack up and go home!"
Tamaki didn't keep her eyes off were Hiei had landed, "..Too soon to celebrate just yet.", she said. "Hiei's still conscious...those rings would have vanished if he was out."
Hiei's obnoxious laugh filled the room, "Clever Ice girl.", he said, walking out again. He wiped off some blood from his lip. "You caught me. I would have used a surprise attack to catch you off guard...but it seems you wont let your guard down as easily as that fool tied up."
Yusuke glared, "I can still hear you!" he reminded. Tamaki stepped back into her stance, "I admit, I thought that would have finished you.", she said. "Please forgive me for underestimating you. I will not hold back again."
Hiei glared at her, knowing full well she held back about half her normal strength. "You know Tamaki, there are a lot of things I hate.", he said. "But being underestimated pisses me off the most!" He lunged in to attack, slicing away with his sword. Tamaki dodged them, but was given no time to retaliate. One wrong step and Hiei could easily slice off her head. Then Hiei did something unexpected...he flipped the sword to the hilt pointing and threw it directly aiming at Tamaki's face. Tamaki had to step to the side to avoid it, but not being able to predict that was coming her foot stepped in the wrong place.
Kurama's eyes widen...that was a bad move and she knew it. Hiei smirked, "Got you!" he said, using the fumble to create the same rings that had Yusuke around her legs. Tamaki fell, being tripped by the rings. She cringed...that was it. Hiei had her now, and that means she knew she was as good as dead.
Hiei laughed, summoning the sword again. It flew back into his hand again. He looked over at Yusuke with that evil smirk of his. "Whats say I give you another choice, Spirit Detective?" he said. "You can chose which of you will die first. You, or your friend Tamaki who desperately tried to save you."
Yusuke glared, "Bastard!" he yelled, struggling again. "Let the girl go, its between me and you!"
Hiei smirked, "I beg to differ.", he said, pointing the sword against Tamaki's neck. "As far as I'm concerned, traitors should be the first to die." A trickle of blood ran down Tamaki's neck.
Yusuke glared, "Look if you're gonna kill me, then hurry it up!" he yelled. "It'd be a whole lot better listening to you define what you think is morally right! Just cut the crap already!" Mainly he was just trying to buy some time for a plan to form.
Hiei just laughed, "I guess you want me to chose again.", he said. Hiei smirked over at Tamaki. "As much as I wish to kill the Spirit Detective, it is my personal belief that traitors die first."
With that Hiei lifted the sword and thrust it forward towards Tamaki's heart. Yusuke's eyes widened, "No!" he cried. Mayu clenched her teeth...she will get him back for this. Tamaki closed her eyes, waiting for the sword to strike her.
..It went through something, but not her. Tamaki opened her eyes to see Kurama in front of her, the sword through his stomach. An impulsive decision made Kurama jump in front of the swords way. Tamaki's eyes widen. "Kurama!" she cried. Hiei was shocked, since he had no idea he was here as well, "You really have gone insane!" he yelled.
Kurama smirked, sliding his hand across the blade, cutting his hand. He then used the newly flowing blood to blind Hiei's Jagan eye. Hiei fell back, blinded and the energy rings disappeared from Yusuke and Tamaki.
Yusuke blinked, "Hey we've come untied.", he said as if it wasn't obvious. Kurama nodded, "The eyes on Hiei's body are merely for amplification." he said. "Without the Jagan eye exposed on his forehead, his powers become useless." Kurama clutched his wound. Tamaki ran over to him, freed from Hiei's trap. "Are you alright?!" she asked, worried. Demon powers or not, Kurama was still human in that form.
Mayu glared over at them, "What the hell did I just get through telling you?!" she yelled. "Sacrificing yourself doesn't give you any redemption!"
Kurama blinked, "It isn't a sacrifice.", he said. "The wound isn't fatal...just a minor whole in my stomach." That confused him though...Hiei never intended it to be fatal. He didn't understand why though.
Thats beside the point! Mayu yelled back. Kurama sighed, "Would you have rather Spirit Worlds last hope chopped to pieces?" he asked. Mayu sweat dropped, ... she had nothing. Tamaki sighed a bit in relief, glad Kurama was okay.
Yusuke rolled his eyes, "Back to the topic at hand!" he said. He looked over at Kurama, "Why did you do it?" he asked.
Kurama smiled a bit, "Well my mother is alive because of you.", he said. "And I'm alive because of Tamaki, so it was the least I could do." Tamaki blinked...she couldn't decide if she should feel flattered, or bop him on the head for doing something so reckless. She smiled a bit though.
Kurama smiled over at them, "Yusuke, you must handle Hiei.", he said. "Ill use my powers to keep the girl from transforming." Tamaki blinked, "You have a whole gaping through your stomach, remember?" she said. "Ill help the girl, you need to recover."
Yusuke nodded in agreement, and Tamaki and Kurama went over to help Botan. Hiei stood back up again, rubbing out his eye. "Kurama how could you?!" he yelled. "Traitor!"
Yusuke started glowing bright red, his energy increasing ten fold, "Take your problems up with me!" he yelled.
Hiei stared at him...the more dangerous the situation becomes, the more powerful Yusuke becomes. It was his only conclusion to him still having this much energy left. He couldn't let the battle continue much longer, he leaped up and began attacking him. It was all hand-to-hand combat from then on, seeing who could take more pain. Hiei saw an opening and hit Yusuke head on, sending him flying back against the wall.
Yusuke staggered up...something twinkled in the corner. His eyes widen, thats it! He knew how to beat up. He ran to the side.
Hiei laughed, "How
sad.", he said. "After all this, you actually believe you can run
away from me." He ran in, getting ready to deliver the final blow,
but Yusuke then aimed and fired his Spirit Gun.
Hiei's eyes widen
and quickly dodged it. Hiei smirked, "My, what a well kept secret,
he said. Too bad all your energy was wasted on poor aim."
Yusuke flinched and fell to his knee...it was up to luck now. Hiei smirked...but suddenly the Spirit Gun blast came back and hit Hiei from behind.
Hiei fell over from it, "What...happened?" he asked. Yusuke smirked, "Simple...I won." he answered.
Hiei looked behind him, But how he asked. And thats when he saw the shattered Forlorn Hope. His eyes widen. "You...reflected the shot. You must have guessed exactly how I would dodge your attack."
Yusuke smirked and nodded, "Guess thats what you call Watching your opponent." he said.
Hiei smirked, "You're...pretty clever.", he said before he blacked out. Mayu smiled, "Nice work Detective!" she said.
Yusuke smiled and grabbed the sword. He ran over to Botan, Keiko, Tamaki and Kurama. He took the hilt of the sword off and dripped the potion into Keiko's mouth. The eye on her forehead disappeared. "Ha, goodbye Keiko monster!" Yusuke said, happy she was okay.
Botan looked over at Yusuke," I still can't believe you did that.", she said. "Why didn't you tell me the Spirit Gun bounced off mirrors, when did you learn that?"
Yusuke smiled confidently, "Um, about ten minutes ago!" he said. Mayu's eyes widen, "What?!"
Yusuke blinked, "Well Hiei was way too fast, I knew he could dodge the Spirit Gun unless I shot him from behind.", he said. "Thats when I spotted the Forlorn Hope in the corner and I thought 'Hey, Ill give it a try'."
Kurama and Tamaki's eyes widened, "You weren't certain?!" they asked in shock in unison.
Yusuke smiled and rubbed the back of his head, "Well one time in Science class they bounced light off a mirror and I thought it might be the same thing.", he said.
"Might?!" Botan yelled. "You risked our lives on a might! What would have you done if the Spirit Gun DIDN'T bounce of mirrors?!"
Yusuke shrugged, "Get chopped up into pieces I guess.", he said. Botan cringed and Kurama and Tamaki started laughing.
"All this while, we've been thinking you were a brilliant strategist. Really you're just a lucky fool." Kurama said, joking. Tamaki laughed harder.
Yusuke glared, "Hey watch it Fox Boy!' he said. "Whats that word mean anyways?"
Tamaki giggled, "A strategist is someone who uses their brain.", she joked, still laughing. Yusuke glared, "You too Ice Princess?!" he shot back, but couldn't help laughing at it.
Botan and Mayu both laughed too, "Now now you guys.", Botan said. "Well we did it, the artifacts are safe."
Mayu smiled and nodded, "Ill go with Botan to Spirit World to help put Hiei in custody." she said, heading over to help Botan lift up Hiei. Good thing he was so small.
Yusuke blinked, "Hey, you guys aren't gonna book these two are you?" he asked, pointing over to Tamaki and Kurama.
Botan sighed a bit, "Well they wont be arrested if thats what you mean.", she said. "But considering the huge risk this was, they will probably face some kind of punishment."
Yusuke stood up, "Hey, thats not fair!" he said." If they hadn't come here, I'd be six feet under by now!"
Mayu smiled, "Relax,." she said. "It probably wont be anything to sever. Maybe just some community service or something."
Yusuke blinked, "Demons have community service?" he asked. Tamaki giggled a bit. Yusuke picked up Keiko, "I'm going to take her home. See you later."
Tamaki and Kurama smiled and waved goodbye. Botan and Mayu went through a portal to Spirit World, carrying Hiei and the artifacts.
Kurama smiled at Tamaki, "Lets go home.", he said. Tamaki smiled and nodded. "Maybe we should go to my apartment so we can heal your wound.", she suggested. "Kokoda might be a bit concerned if you showed up with a hole through your stomach."
Kurama smiled a bit and nodded, "Good idea.", he said, standing up a bit. Tamaki quickly helped him keep his balance.
Tamaki looked at him a bit, "Are you feeling okay?" she asked. "You really didn't have to do that."
Kurama smiled, "I feel fine. I avoided the organs at least.", he said. "And I know I didn't have to...but that didn't mean I didn't want to."
Tamaki smiled a bit and they headed off.
