Chapter Nine
Kikiyo smiled at her daughter, holding her close as to make sure Koro would be unable to take her precious jewel from her. Keinomi looked beautiful in the white clothe that sheltered her from the cool breeze that filtered into the room. Ayame was still asleep, both her children held in her arms tightly.
"Hello, love. Sleep well. We've worked for it," she whispered.
Keinomi snuggled closer, her greenish-gold eyes staring in wonder at the world around her.
"You know, though your father may not look it, he once was a very powerful Kitsune. In fact, he was…still is a legend throughout the Makai. He may not look like much but he truly cares for both of us. He's coming to save us and then we'll live together forever," she continued.
"That sounds perfect," Ayame said from the bed next to her. "We can both live happily with our husbands and grow old together."
Kikiyo smiled to her friend, "We deserve it."
The door to the room suddenly opened admitting two men. They held a roll of parchment in their hands, keeping their eyes downcast.
"By order of Lord Koro, you are to hand over the three babes to be examined and marked. To disobey is punishable by death."
"What d'you mean 'marked'?"
The second guard looked up, his silver eyes boring into theirs, "They will be branded by Lord Koro and will be his until such time of his ascension."
"No." Kikiyo stated defiantly, "They will be loyal to whom they wish. No one else."
Both men looked at each other, "Do you wish to be killed?"
They shook their heads, but held on tightly to their children. No matter what happened they would not let Koro have the children. He would only cause harm in having them, beside their fathers had yet to meet them.
The two men nodded, "We will report this to Lord Koro."
The wall once again sealed behind them, leaving the five people alone within their stone solitude.
//
Sinamon laid, covered almost completely with a coverlet. Her eyes were unfocused as she gazed upwards. She yet again had lost her very soul; it had fled with the slightest touch from Jean. Some where she knew deep inside, she cried but outwardly nothing appeared. She just wanted to be left alone, to never be bothered or touched by another. She could not understand why such things kept happening to her.
It was not as if she were weak yet twice she had been raped and both times she had been unable to stop it.
'Hiei…' her mind scream, hoping to see him, hear his voice.
Nothing responded but the silence of her mind. She had promised she would never be broken again but she could not find the will to move. Perhaps if she stayed still, she would never be seen again and therefore allowed to die. It was more than likely incorrect since Jean would want more but she could hope.
'Anyone? Please help me. Kill me,' she whispered mentally.
Once again, silence was her only response. A lone tear slowly trailed from her eyes, not even startling the young girl. Someone had to find them but she could not say when and that was the problem.
//
Hiei hurried with the others, ignoring Kuwabara's whining. If they did not hurry, he knew Sinamon would become unreachable and he did not want that.
"Guys, sorry to say this but we do have to stop. If we don't rest even a little, then how do we plan on defeating Koro?" Yusuke said, slowing the pace dramatically.
Hiei growled, throwing a punch at the leader without a thought, "We can't stop, not yet! Not until we find the girls! Not until I know Sinamon's safe!"
His fist slammed into the wall, followed repeatedly by the other. Kurama grabbed Hiei, hugging him tightly.
"Shh, Hiei. We'll find her, don't worry."
He felt Hiei cling to him, the tears the Forbidden Child had bottled inside for so long escaping to crystallize into light blue jewels. Kurama then knew the truth. Hiei, whether would admit it or not, truly loved Sinamon. The light blue symbolized that.
Kuwabara and Yusuke nodded sadly, placing a comforting hand on their friends shoulder. He had been through so much yet at moments when he showed them a part of who he really was, they could see the lost boy searching for a home, for acceptance.
'Hiei,' echoed suddenly in his head, bringing him to his knees. 'Anyone? Please help me. Kill me,' it continued bringing forth ragged sobs from his very soul.
Sinamon was in despair and there was nothing he could do besides think she would hold on until he got there. Then when he found out who had put her in that state, he would not hesitate to kill them. They had stolen her happiness and with it, his as well. He could only hope she would hold on as Yukina had when she was held prisoner and beaten. All because of her relation to him.
~Flashback~
Yukina sat uncomfortably on the floor of the cell, feeling alone. She tried miserably to heal her wound but it seemed as though it was taking forever. She had not slept since she had been brought to the dungeons unless you counted the times she had fallen unconscious from the brutal beatings. She still refused to give up her hope of being set free.
"Her brother is here," one of the men whispered to the other though catching her attention.
Her brother, the one person she had searched her whole life for, was coming for her. She could not help but smile at the irony.
Hiei flew into the room, his katana turning red with blood.
"Let Yukina go," he said blandly, his eyes narrowed in anger.
"Ahh, but don't you want to know who she is?" a man from the shadows asked.
Hiei only continued to glare, watching every movement either man made. Once nodded to the other, stabbing a dagger into Yukina. Hiei went blind with rage, his sword swinging madly as he struck each target except Yukina.
He knelt in front of her, cradling her in his arms, "Yukina. Don't worry. I'll…"
"No. Just tell me if you know who my brother is," she interrupted.
He sighed, "It's me. It's always been me."
She smiled, cupping his cheek, feeling the heat from his body, "Don't worry. At least I got to know before I could be taken."
She suddenly went limp in his arms, her blood puddling around them on the floor.
~End Flashback~
His eyes shot open, staring at the cloth he rested on. He sat up quickly, glancing around in fear.
"It's okay, Shortie. No one's come this way," Kuwabara whispered.
"Hn."
He turned his attention from the boy guarding them to his thoughts. There was only two people he trusted to rescue Sinamon. Kurama and himself. Someone though would save her.
//
Lord Koro walked through the snowy banks of the Ningenkai. The streets were deserted of people, thinking it better to remain warm then have fun and play in the snow. Temperatures had reached a negative five, something Koro loved. No one other than Nonomiko would dare venture out in the weather.
"Do you see how quiet the world has become?" he asked the bundle of cloth beside him.
"Yes, My Lord," came the muffled reply.
He once again went silent. He had all he had needed. The three worlds were frozen over, the Prince's children and wife in his captivity, and he was the most powerful god. Nothing seemed to be going wrong and nothing would unless someone wished to pay dearly for the mistake.
He sighed contentedly, turning his attention back the way they had come. It was best to return before the Spirit Defense Team was released to catch him.
//
Lord Inari sat at his desk, his chin resting on his hand in thought. It was easy to tell that their side was being betrayed. The Imperial Court had chosen those they believed would not betray them but so far it had failed. In the last two centuries, five gods had betrayed them to do as they please and it was growing tiresome.
He had returned only hours before from his date with Nonomiko. In truth, he had promised to date her but found his interests still laid with Sinamon. Who would have thought a powerful god would choose a Mortal over a goddess? Surely no one but he. Yet he knew that her heart was held tightly in Hiei's hand and he could understand that.
With the new disaster threatening the worlds, he could only know that he wanted to take her somewhere safe where nothing could affect her. Her kidnapping stole that plan from him before he could consciously devise a plan. Now he once again had to rely on the Spirit Detectives to save her.
Koro would die whether by sentence from as the court or by his hand, he cared not. Just as long as the god was destroyed and never allowed to return. If it was seen to be impossible then he would find a way to make it so.
