Wolfie: Drum roll please my love
Balisaurus: No.
Wolfie: Aww, you're no fun. Besides I feel bad. I've abandoned my readers for a long time…if I even have any left.
Kurama: Well it is kind of discouraging when you don't have any reviews for you last chapter.
Hiei: (Growls) I want Yukina back!!
Balisaurus: Hun, maybe you should just get on with the story now?
Wolfie: Sure, okay all, enjoy the next chapter. And I promise to try and actually finish this story.
--Whatever-- Means talking mentally with someone
' whatever' is mentally talking to whoever's self
" Whatever" is talking regularly
Whatever is used during a dream or a flashback.
Chapter 14: A bittersweet Surprise
After a few days of rest the gang was all together again for the next battle of the tournament. As they waited to meet their next opponents a message was delivered to them by a tournament official. "What does it say?" Yusuke and Kuwabara asked crowding close to Kurama who received the letter.
"It says 'You have done well and I shall reward you after this match. Should you win you will be permitted to see the girls Yukina and Keiko for a brief period of time. But should you lose, all deals are off and they will be given to my men as I promised before. Good luck with the match. Signed, Muteki.' Kurama read to them all. Everyone could hear Hiei growling softly.
"That bastard, who does he think he is?" Yusuke yelled and punched the wall. Kuwabara nodded, shaking in anger. Kurama was busy reading the message again. Hawk and Raven stood apart from the others having a silent conversation until the opponents were announced. Hiei just leaned against the wall planning his own thoughts of sweet revenge. The next round went by fairly quickly due to the fact that everyone was eager to see their friends safe and alive. No one paid any real attention to their opponents.
Kuwabara being the first to step up was knocked out and defeated almost instantly. Yusuke and Kurama quickly ran over and carried him back checking his head for the damage his opponent's blow might have caused. Though with his heard head there was barely even a bump to show where he was hit and he woke up minutes later, though more than a little lost and confused as to what happened. While Yusuke took the kind liberty to explain, Raven went up for the next battle.
Raven's battle lasted nearly an hour as she was matched against another shadow demon who moved almost as fast as Hiei, and even harder to catch as he used his demonic claws to cause cuts that seemed to just appear on her body. But thanks to Hiei's training she was able to follow him and sped towards the demon just in time to kick him out of the ring.
Hawk managed to finish her battle fairly quickly and receiving almost no damage. Her opponent was slow and had a large weakness against light energy. Hawk noticed this and used it to every advantage she could. She easily surrounded the arena in balls of light, blinding the demon along with everyone watching. The demon regained his sight as he was thrown outside the ring and into the wall.
Yusuke had lots of trouble defeating his opponent due to the fact that he was concerned and excited about his chance to see Keiko again and lost the battle. After using several badly aimed spirit guns and one lucky shotgun blast he returned almost collapsing before he could reach his teammates even more upset than when he had started.
Kurama only paid attention to the other fighter long enough to determine his weakness and was reprimanded once or twice by Yoko for losing his focus, his only consolation was the fact that he won his battle without too much interference from a certain fox demon.
Hiei killed his enemy by nearly destroying the whole ring with his fire attacks, his renewed anger at Yukina's capture once again taking over his clear thinking. If not for his superior speed and reflexes the fire koorime would have almost certainly lost his battle against the final opponent, which would've ended in a tie. But the determined little fire demon pulled through, slicing his enemy in half in a small attempt to release some of his anger.
Having won the Urameshi team received another letter telling them to meet the girls out in the courtyard behind the hotel. Botan met them as they were coming out of the arena to heal their injuries as best she could, leaving Raven only slightly injured afterwards but everyone else fully healed. After she was done the seven of them rushed to the field as fast as they could to see the girls dressed in beautiful kimonos.
"Keiko/Yukina!" everyone but Raven and Hiei yelled as they rushed forward only to be stopped by several guards, all at least medium to high A level ranking. One guard stepped forward.
"You shall have half an hour with the women before they will be removed. Surrounding them is a force field that prevents spirit or demon abilities being used and the girls from leaving until it is removed. All weapons must be left outside the circle, you are welcome to leave a member of your group outside the circle fully armed if you desire protection. You may now proceed. Enjoy your visit for it may be your last." The leader said and stepped back allowing the others room to move forward.
--Now would be a perfect time to tell Yukina your secret Hiei.-- Raven told the koorime silently. She could already tell that Hiei was more than willing to stay outside the circle to protect the others. She herself was thinking of doing the same thing. She had no real connection to Yukina or Keiko and could see from where she was the girls were okay. Besides, she trusted her sister's safety to no one but herself and Hiei.
--Hn, mind your own business onna.-- He replied even though he was starting to think she was right. After they got out of this mess he was seriously thinking about telling her.
--fine, whatever-- She grumbled and motioned for Hawk and Botan to go ahead and spend time with the girls. Yusuke, Kurama and Kuwabara eagerly moved forward to see the girls.
--Any Idea why this guy is being so generous as to let us see the girls without setting a trap?-- Raven asked Hiei. She was still puzzling over the reasons in her mind as to the advantages of doing this kind of thing while she kept a close eye on her sister, their companions, and the guards.
--To throw us off maybe?--Hawks voice broke in. Being sisters it was nearly impossible to keep anything hidden from the other after centuries of growing up with their minds interlocked.
--Hn, seems most likely. He's wanting us to get over-confident or in some way mess us up in the finals next week. It must be some way of messing with our minds.-- Hiei said as he continued to ponder other possibilities. The three of them quietly left each other's minds and continued what they were doing until the half hour was up.
"Alright, time is up." the head guard said to Yusuke. "I'm gonna have to ask you to step out of the circle. Your abilities shall be returned to you upon leaving." Yusuke and the others said their farewells and made their promises before stepping out of the circle. Raven could feel Hiei's tension increase at the thought of them taking Yukina away again. It was all Raven could do to convince him that he would only do more harm than good by attacking now.
Everyone watched as the demons stepped back into the force field. It began to get darker and darker around the girls and the guards as they were transported in a small ball of shadows to a place a large distance away. Hiei attempted to track them but the force field seemed to have some kind of cloaking device surrounding it preventing his jagan from following their trail.
Heavy hearted the reikai tentei made their way back to the hotel in order to rest from their battle and prepare themselves as best they could for the next and final battle ahead of them. No one said a word on the way back, everyone lost in thoughts. All anyone could agree on was soon they would have the girls back and get their revenge.
Shortly after getting back to the hotel, Hawk, Kurama and Botan go out food shopping for their teammates in an attempt to cheer them up. Everyone sat around quietly. Yusuke and Kuwabara were half heartedly playing a game of poker, Hiei was in the windowsill staring outside not really seeing anything and Raven was sitting on the floor next to him with her back to the wall.
None of this was making sense to anyone. Other than kidnapping the girls, throwing the detectives into this tournament, and the threatening letters, Muteki didn't seem like any of the other bad guys they've gone up against who have done similar things. He hasn't made an attack on them since they've been here, he's allowed them to see the girls, again without trapping them. According to the boys, he's taken extremely good care of the girls, even allowing them out into the garden daily, though he's never actually shown his face to them he'd even come to check on their needs every few days or so. What kind of villain does that? No one even had an answer.
While Raven and Hiei were pondering on these kind of things Kurama and the girls came back from their shopping. As they began unloading everyone started crowding around them seeing what they bought. There was several cartons of ice cream for Hiei, chips, cookies, and other kinds of junk food for the boys, some jerky and chocolate stuff (cereal, bars, etc.) for Botan, Raven and hawk, some snacks for Kurama and then stuff to make dinner with. Everyone grabbed their treats and went back to what they were doing while Kurama and Botan began working on dinner. Hawk walked over and joined the boys in their poker game, Raven watching her with a small smile on her face.
--You care a lot for her don't you?--Hiei's voice asked. Raven looked up to see him slowly eating his ice cream.
--Yeah, I do. She's my sister, we grew up together. We protect each other.-- Raven said smiling. --Our father and her mother died shortly after she was born. It was my job to keep her safe. I couldn't have been more than five or so but I promised father I would.--
--I'm sorry.-- Hiei said looking away. Raven could tell that he was upset she just wasn't sure why. And what did he have to be sorry for.
--Why are you sorry? What happened to my family isn't your fault. What could you have done anyway?-- She asked.
--I didn't get back in time to save your father. I looked for you for a few years before I lost all trace of you and had to stop. Didn't your father ever tell you anything about me?-- He demanded. Raven stopped to think back on that day for a moment.
--Actually, yes he did. He told me to find a demon named Hiei Jaganshi also called the forbidden child. I see now he meant for me to find you. I tried looking, but I was extremely slowed down by Hawk.-- Raven confessed then thought back a little more. --We finally found a group of demons who hadn't heard of our father and was willing to take in two orphaned demon girls. We stayed with then for about ten years or so until Hawk was old enough to defend herself a little and then we left. I'd finally given up on finding the forbidden child. It seems now I shouldn't have, but nothing I can do about it now.--
Before Hiei could reply Kurama's voice interrupted him. "Okay everyone, dinner is ready now. Let's eat and then get some rest." He said and everyone came into the kitchen to get a plate. Raven and Hiei's conversation all but forgotten as they talked over dinner sharing stories and joking with each other for a change. After dinner everyone got cleaned up and went to bed early.
Wolfie: Okay, there you go everyone. I got chapter 14 done and even gave a little inside to Raven and Hawk's past.
Yusuke: Wow, you sure got Hiei to talk a lot there.
Wolfie: I know, he's a little ooc, but I needed to get Raven started on her story somehow.
Hiei: What do I care about some baka onna?
Wolfie: (Hits Hiei upside the head with a frying pan nearly knocking him out) Be nice Hiei! Oops. (Sweatdrops) hehe
Hiei: (Growls) Onna! (Pulls out his sword)
Wolfie: (Gulps) Um please read and review while I run from a pissed off Hiei. Ja ne! (Rushes out the door with Hiei hot on her heels.)