Author's Note: Hi, again, after so long! I am sorry it took this much time to get this chapter up and running *deep bow*. We just moved and I have been busy for a few weeks now readying for the move, actually moving, and setting the new place up. It's been worth it, but I am so glad to be back!

Quick recap: Hiei, Kurama, Yusuke, and Koenma are ready to set into battle against a clan who most likely has a Seer. Kurama has apparently recovered from his recent poisoning, but is having difficulties breathing the Makai air for so long with his human lungs, especially since he is weakened. He has not heard much from Youko recently, but Yusuke fears whatever his energy fluctuations are due to could potentially cause problems during the fight. Kurama has devised a plan to get around the Seer's abilities by each concentrating on a different plan of attack chosen at the last minute (or in Yusuke's case, just be Yusuke and have no plan of attack :D ). Hiei has acknowledged that Kurama is his chosen mate, and Kurama knows it also. However, Yusuke also discovered their secret, unbeknownst to our two favorite bishounen demons, after he saw them kissing and getting a little hot and heavy in the forest. The foursome are standing at the edge of the woods at sunup, and have stepped out to engage in battle against the very ancient, very knowledgeable (of the Scroll of Manacht) clan. Sorry, that was a long recap, but it has been a few weeks!

Chapter 12

Hiei's boot hit the thirsty earth with a deafening thud. Dirt clods were reduced to nothing beneath his light weight; rocks further cracked the fragile soil. On the horizon, perhaps half a mile away, loomed an army of demons that he knew were old, cunning, and deadly. The sun rose steadily behind the troupe, giving the appearance their hair and bodies were on fire. He did not look down when Kurama's hand gently brushed his, but he made up his mind at that second that Kurama would take refuge in the trees and attack from there. Just imagining his fox in his current condition on a battlefield against these bastards was enough to boil his blood. Telepathically, he sent his request to Kurama.

Kurama gave no sign that anything had passed between them, his face remaining stoic, as was customary for him when preparing for battle. He sent a message in return, though, "Hiei, let me remain on the battlefield for a short time. It is unwise for only you and Yusuke to go up against so many. I can help you eliminate much of the front line. After that, it is only logical that I follow your plan of action, giving that I have greater strength amongst the trees."

Hiei grunted. He knew Kurama was right, as he had known Kurama would make such a request. It would have to be that way, he supposed; there was no time for arguing. His eyes roamed, his neck never turning, searching for his other companions. Koenma had left their side, but he sensed his presence in a nearby copse of thick-growing pines. He was slightly impressed the prince had chosen to remain in Makai. He had thought he would surely run back to Daddy in the Reikai. Perhaps he had a spine after all. Yusuke was in front of Kurama and him, creating an obnoxious noise with his knuckles as he prepared to rush in blindly, no doubt.

Hiei stopped abruptly, as had the demon clan. They stood, one hundred paces away from each other, each trying to quickly assess the power and prowess of their current enemy.

Hiei's eyes scanned their opponent, taking in their numbers swiftly. Roughly seventy-five—to their four. Hiei remained unconcerned. In demon battles, it was not the numbers that mattered, it was the skill level of the individual fighters. He and Kurama each were A-class demons, nearing S-class status. Yusuke was already known quite well in Makai as a worthy former heir to one-third of the demon realm. From the meager readings Hiei made of the enemy's power levels, over half were only D- and C-class demons. Two thirds of the remaining were B-class; only a handful were of any true concern, which was a relief.

One of the clan facing them, their leader or war general, Hiei assumed, stepped forward five paces. Hiei, assuming the role of leader, mirrored his movement. The demon nodded his head slightly, clearly saying their side was ready to begin. Hiei's head tipped forward curtly, signaling the same. Each stepped back to his group.

A war cry from the opposing side rang out in the morning air.

Hiei, Kurama, and Yusuke returned the cry passionately.

Yusuke rushed headfirst into the onslaught of demons, introducing the first he met to his fist. His knuckles smashed into the demon's face; blood squirted from his nose as it made a sickening "pop" noise. One demon tried to go around Yusuke and attack him from behind, but quickly met the same fate as he was acquainted with the teen's elbow.

Hiei and Kurama ran behind, Hiei's hand on his hilt, Kurama's hand in the back of his hair, fingering a ready-to-be-developed rose seed. Feeding ki into it, he whipped out a rose which quickly transformed into his rose whip. Simultaneously, Hiei unsheathed his katana; it sang for blood as it caressed the scabbard during its exit.

Kurama somersaulted into the middle of five apparitions. They began to move in on him eagerly, but were stopped as they were sliced in half by the thorned whip. Both halves of the demons fell to the ground, the malnourished soil drinking up the blood with enthusiasm. The redhead whipped around in time to see another apparition advance on him. He flicked his rose whip again; the apparition dodged. Kurama jumped back as the demon brandished a sword and cut through the air, forcing Kurama to take the defensive. The sword crashed down and met the rose whip. Again, and again. Finally, seeing his chance, Kurama's whip wrapped around the sword, ripping it from the youkai's hand. Kurama pulled a reed from his hair which became a long javelin. Quickly and accurately, he rammed it through the demon's stomach and forced it back out. The demon fell to his knees and slumped to the ground. Turning his back, Kurama faced two new opponents, one with a mace, another bearing no weapon. The latter seemed the more dangerous of the two; there was something about his energy that felt…repressed.

Hiei sensed it, too. With lightning speed, he slit the throats of the two demons nearest him, and flitted to Kurama's side. He held his sword out at arm's length, blood dripping from the tip, daring the two to come closer. The demon which stood in front of him was the same who had stepped forward in a position of power at the start of the battle.

He gazed scornfully at Hiei and his sword then turned an interested eye on Kurama, sizing him up. Shrugging his shoulders, he took a step closer. "You cannot frighten me, Hiei, wielder of the Dark Dragon."

Hiei's grip tightened noticeably on his sword. Baring his teeth, he remained silent.

The demon remained unperturbed. "Nor can you, former thief, Youko Kurama." He waved a hand dismissingly. "Or, what's left of you, demon traitor."

Kurama's eyes narrowed, but something deep within reverberated through his being and growled. Youko had been insulted, and that was something that angered him greatly. With a great deal of effort, Kurama restrained Youko. It was not quickly enough; his energy signature had fluctuated slightly, spiked for a slight moment.

The demon's eyes widened slightly, and he smirked. "So, the rumors are true. There is some part of the legendary demon living in you still."

Kurama said nothing, his face gave away nothing, his energy in check.

Fifty meters away, Yusuke took a brief intermission from the carnage and glanced at his two companions. Kurama's energy had changed again, for a short period. Thankfully, he noted that Hiei was standing next to him. He had to hope they could handle themselves. Seven demons approached him. Bracing his feet firmly against the ground beneath him, he stood ready for attack. "Shot gun!" Blasts of blue spirit energy flew from his fist and effectively tore the encroaching enemies apart.

Hiei glared daggers at the demon who had spoken to them. "Who are you, and how is it you know so much about us?" he demanded.

"I am Kaijimbo, general of the army of this clan. As for where our information comes from, let's just say we do our homework."

Hiei flinched mentally as an obtrusive voice entered his mind. "Behind you!" Koenma shouted in his mind.

Hiei turned quickly in time to see a demon with a stomach wound ready to drive a sword into his back. Without hesitation, Hiei slashed his katana through the top of the demon's head and continued down through his face, neck, and torso, slicing him in half, the pieces slumping in symmetrical perfection.

Kurama whipped around as he sensed the threat, but then felt a sharp pain in right shoulder blade. Grunting, he stumbled forward and hit his knees.

"Kurama!" Yusuke's voice sounded in alarm from a length away.

Hiei's head whipped around, and he choked at the sight which lay before him—Kurama, on his knees, a mace lodged in his back. His face bore an expression of shock, his green eyes shining and confused. With fingers that trembled only slightly, so slightly only Hiei noticed, he moved his hand back, pointing it behind him. A razor sharp blade grew from a tiny blade of grass in the span of a millisecond; the demon which had swung the accursed weapon cried out in surprise before he was permanently silenced by the grass green blade which pierced his throat. The blade slithered out of its fleshy casing and shrunk in size. As the blade was removed, its victim slumped heavily to the ground.

Hiei was quickly in front of Kurama, flaunting his sword dangerously. Yusuke was at his side nearly as quickly. "Get him to the woods," Hiei ordered under his breath.

Yusuke nodded and bent to pick Kurama up.

Kurama grabbed Yusuke's arm and together the two limped out of sight.

Hiei turned his full attention to the youkai in front of him. His eyes blazed in anger, the fire that he wielded so effortlessly burned within him and longed for escape. The dragon within was restless, as well. He could feel it stirring uneasily, could sense it readying itself for the thrill of battle, for a delicious feast. "You should never have said you didn't fear the dragon. He longs to prove himself now. It will not end well for you."

"Oh?" Kaijimbo questioned, smirking. "We shall see who this does not turn out well for." He braced his legs and steadied his arms. His posture suggested he was a martial arts master.

From the trees, Kurama made himself comfortable in a branch. He had extracted the mace from his back, an experience as unpleasant as when it had first wedged itself in place there. He had sent Yusuke back to battle; there were still close to twenty fighters aside from Kaijimbo, though he seemed the only one of any import and true danger. He bit his tongue as he lifted his hurt arm to remove his shirt. Blood trickled down his back as the muscles worked and pumped the sticky, crimson liquid out faster. With preciseness, he ripped his shirt in shreds and created makeshift bandages for his wound to stop the bleeding. Taking one end of the bandage in his left hand and the other between his teeth, he tightened the cloth. Kurama gauged his vitals and concluded the tips on the mace had not been poisoned, something he was extremely thankful for. Inserting a leaf in his mouth, he clamped it in his jaw and sucked. It was an herb that was a fairly effective pain reliever. He was grateful when the throbbing dulled almost immediately and his shoulder began to feel slightly numb.

Carefully, he stood, palm braced against the trunk of the tree to prevent him from falling. From his perch, he had a clear view of the battle that was still raging beneath him. Yusuke had reentered the fight and was having no problem taking care of himself or his opponents. His gaze fell on Hiei, who stood ready to face off Kaijimbo. He did not recognize the stance in which Kaijimbo stood, but he had little doubt that he was anything but a trained master of whatever style of martial arts he happened to use.

He pressed harder against the tree with his palm, feeling the ebb and flow of life coursing through the plant. He began to allow small rivulets of his ki to wriggle between the bark and into the trunk. Whenever Hiei needed help, and Kurama was afraid he may, he would be ready. No one was going to hurt Hiei while he was present. A formidable foe within rose to the challenge he had presented, but Kurama silenced him. "Never. Hiei is mine, mine alone. Mine to love, and mine to protect."

2nd A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter (aka, hope it was worth the wait…sigh). Well, now that we are settled into our new place, the wait for the next chapter will not be so long, I promise!