Disclaimer – "Yu Yu Hakusho" and all known related characters do not belong to me. I get no monetary benefit from this. My benefit is the enjoyment of dealing with beloved characters.

"What Goes Around . . . "
by DragonDancer5150

Chapter 11 - Thorns

Kurama closed his eyes for a moment, welcoming the warm energies that flowed from Botan's hands. Genkai's healing had washed away most of the bruises and strains as well as erasing the burn-tattoos Dog had given him. Botan focused on his hand and shoulder and down through his torn back, those injuries being far deeper.

After a moment, the girl opened her eyes. "I'm sorry. That's all I can do for now."

Kurama met her apologetic gaze and shook his head. "I am glad for any help. Thank you." He turned in the direction their friends had gone, opening his senses to feel for their whereabouts. "We should see what is happening with - " He stiffened suddenly, his breath stolen, his attention snapping to the front doors.

"What is it?" Botan whispered, seeing the fleeting fear in his eyes.

Without answering, Kurama began to pull himself to his feet. Botan helped, watching his expression closely. Kurama cursed under his breath. This was the last thing they needed right now. He had extended his senses only to catch the opening of a periphery portal just outside the front doors. Several youkai guards had emerged and were just then beginning to beat on the locked doors. Kurama pulled Botan behind him. There was no time to go for cover and no doors, no furniture close enough or large enough even to try. His seeds were stashed in various locations about his person but, as he took a quick mental inventory, he realized that none would be of any use in this situation. He snatched the rose from under his hair. "Rose Whip!"

"Kurama, no!" Botan gasped as the rose transformed with a crack.

"If we are taken again now, this will never be solved," Kurama told her, his voice a growl. "I doubt we will have another chance." He was not customarily left-handed but had trained himself to fight with ambidexterity if he ever found the need. Now he was thankful for the foresight. Still, he feared he would be no match even for the guards in his current state, let alone - No, not him!

The doors gave easily under the creatures' supernatural strength. A handful darted through, breaking to either side. Then he stepped through, looking over the situation with a critical eye.

Pulling himself up straight, Kurama met the powerful youkai's arrogant gaze with a defiant look of his own. "Batsukuno."

"I might say 'well met,' Youko Kurama," Batsukuno returned in an even tone, "but then I would be lying and that is ill-becoming of the Chief of Justice now, isn't it? I must say I am surprised that you would dare return here after escaping me - or was there unfinished business to clean up? You have been quite a thorn in my side over the past twenty-four hours." He grinned with little humor, eyes going to the Rose Whip in Kurama's hand.

Kurama deliberately ignored the play-on-words. "We have the task of finding the evidence to prove we are blameless. Is that not how youkai justice operates - guilty until proven innocent?"

"You fall for that ignorant propaganda? I had thought you, of all people, to be more astute than that. I run a fair court, youko. It is those criminals who do not like the judgments against them who start such lies. No one would be brought before me unless captured for an offense. Admittedly, it is not inconceivable for a mistake to be made . . . but we both know how often that happens when dealing with youkai. Our kind, as a general rule, is not known for our . . . civility with one another, let alone anything weaker than ourselves. I will admit, I am tempted by the urges myself on occasion but, of course, I must set a better example than that."

"No, instead you hide behind your judge's robe and justify punishing the innocent with the guilty!" Botan shot back.

Anger flashed in Batsukuno's vivid purple eyes and, for a moment, Kurama feared he would retaliate with his agony attack. "Take care your words, ferry girl," he murmured, his voice as soft as it was lethal, "as you too are facing charges - aiding and abetting convicts, harboring an escaped prisoner, possibly even being party to the escape itself."

At that, Kurama heard her gulp audibly and pull a little further behind him.

Just then, horrendous noises echoed to them from elsewhere in the house - the heavy clanging of thick metal pots, the warning shouts of voices, and the bashing noises of appliances and metal tables and shelves. Hiei! Kurama realized in sudden concern.

"What the - ?" Batsukuno startled. "Captain, take some of your men and check that out. It's probably the assassin." The captain bowed, motioned to a handful of guards and started off for the kitchen.

"Batsukuno, don't do this, at least not yet," Kurama implored. "Just give us time - "

"To what? Fabricate an alibi? I think not. I have all the evidence needed to put both you and the assassin away for good. Now I will warn you only once - submit or be subdued." His voice was stiff with repressed fury and brooked no argument.

There was nothing Kurama could do. Against only the guards he might have had a chance but not against Batsukuno, not in his present weakened state. Besides, he had to admit to himself, he had no desire to give the cold youkai reason to punish him with that agony attack on top of his existing injuries. All he could do was hope that Hiei escaped once again. And what of Yusuke and Kuwabara? Damn! He turned to look down the corridor after the retreating guards.

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Yusuke pulled himself to his feet and jumped over the dissected appliance, Kuwabara close on his heels. A thick cloud of flour dust filled the air as the last of the appliances and kitchenwares fell lifelessly to the floor. To his relief, he heard coughing and low cursing from within. That meant Hiei was alive, at least. He snatched up a large copper frying pan and began fanning the air, clearing the flour. Then he nearly doubled over laughing in spite of himself.

Hiei had managed to unbury himself from the pile of bags. The knives cut open his cloak in numerous places but most seemed to have grazed his limbs or missed him altogether, doing more damage to the sacks. Hiei himself was coated with a layer of flour, dusted white from head to toe. He shot the two humans a frown of annoyance at their humor, then twisted to reach for something behind his left shoulder.

Yusuke stopped laughing with a hitch of alarm. The white powder had turned to red mud around and under a large handle jutting out from Hiei's back at the shoulder blade. The fire apparition grasped the handle and pulled. He did not utter a sound but Yusuke and Kuwabara made enough noise in empathy to make up for it.

"That doesn't look good," Kuwabara worried.

"Never mind that." Hiei tossed away the butcher knife with contempt, glowering at the oven. "Whatever attacked is in there." He started for the appliance, then froze.

"What - ?" Yusuke started.

Hiei shook his head, his expression allowing for no objections. His mental voice was edged with an urgency to which they were unaccustomed from the fire apparition as he contacted them telepathically. -If you two never follow instructions again, be sure that you heed me now. Get down - don't move - stay silent. Do it!- he added, shoving Yusuke down behind one of the fallen tables. He turned his glare on Kuwabara, who quickly but reluctantly followed suit.

They watched Hiei hesitate, staring at the door. Then Kuwabara gasped softly. "There's other youkai here," he whispered to Yusuke. Hiei shot him a quick warning look before they heard shouts.

"There he is! Jaganshi Hiei, halt! . . . Dammit - after him!" the voice cried as Hiei took off. Several youkai pounded through the kitchen, taking no notice of the two humans.

Kuwabara looked quizzically at Yusuke. "What did they call him?"

Yusuke shook his head. "I dunno. Forget it." At least half a dozen creatures had just run by. Youkai are not allowed in the Human Realm without a really good reason, Yusuke thought. They must be here for Hiei and - He gasped. Kurama's in no condition to fight. He grabbed Kuwabara by the arm, hauling him to his feet. "We have to get back to Kurama and Botan."

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Hiei had the same thought as he darted through the halls, ignoring the pain burning through his shoulder, the arm already having gone numb. He intended to lead the guards well away from Yusuke and Kuwabara before dispatching them, in case their departing souls gave away the humans' presence to the Spirit Realm. Rounding a corner to a dead end at a heavy, locked door, he turned to make his stand. The fleetest guard lost his head before he was all the way around the corner. The next took the cue to approach with more caution. Hiei scried around the corner through the Jagan and recognized the captain from last night. He saw the captain stop his comrades with a hand on one's shoulder.

"Jaganshi Hiei, we already have your partner and the ferry girl. Your continued resistance will only make things harder on them. Or will you forsake your partner again? There will be no second escape for him, so don't even consider trying to fetch him later. Surrender now and he may be allowed to live."

Hiei swore silently. He could not afford to call their bluff, inclined to believe that the captain spoke the truth. He had no time and no patience for these fools. Instead, he concentrated and disappeared, teleporting down the hall back behind them. He was gone before they knew what he had done.

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