Kurama was the first to be selected. His chakras were hit again, he gained another tail. He was shifted into the next area, for the next fox to get its next tail as well. They were all back in and the door was closed. The flower came budding up from the ground again. It opened for Hoshimi.
"More tails," Hoshimi gathered. "You don't get to align your chakras, they do it for you with such force." Hoshimi inspected the tubes that was connected to the terrariums. She sniffed the pipelines. "Some sort of concoction that strengthens you, but it's not a fast growth. Hmmm." She started to leave the secret room.
They watched her leave. Hoshimi followed the pipelines. She reached a room that had vats of the mysterious liquid. It had several pipelines branching off to different routes. Hoshimi observed the room, watching the ingredients mixing together, change in workers, and such.
Hotaka had gathered his generals to his army. He informed his generals of everything that was going on. There was a map that had all of demon world on it. Yusuke brought Chu and the gang. Hiei brought Mukuro, Yomi, and Shura.
"We don't have any definite answers on where he is but we have it down to certain areas," Hotaka pointed out to the flags pinned on the map. "We use to have immediate information until he disappeared. My scouts relayed back to us that he is planning on forcing demon world to be under his control. He was going to strike once he hit a certain number of soldiers as well as their training. He was a fourth of the way there when we were trailing him. Who knows if he is sticking with timeline or doubling his soldiers."
"There are always those who want to take over demon world, what makes him so special?" Mukuro asked with arms crossed.
"Demon world flourishes on being ourselves, like any other world," Hotaka explained. "Just more savage and ruthless, only the strong shall survive, but his world is mass genocide until everyone obeys his reign. He will have the army to start it, plenty of incentives to get both the weak and the strong on his side, and our beautiful flourishing world of different terrains will be just one and we will all have slave collars."
"You're building an army to rival but you don't know when or where he will strike," Yusuke surveyed the map. "And if he has all S class soldiers, how are the rag tag group of us going to defeat him? I mean those fruits helped but is it enough?"
"Hmph," one of Hotaka's friends scoffed. "Is it enough? Its more than enough. You think we just have the group of you here being trained? We have groups all over being trained. This is just the elite soldiers squadron. Those plants were bred to have a bountiful harvest. They are being harvested and distributed as we speak. We only lack time and date. We will be a force that can take him down."
"When will we get that information?" Hiei spoke nonchalant.
"Hoshimi will relay the information once she is established," Hotaka informed them.
"The little Sheila is with the enemy?" Chu gasped. "You better hope nothing happens to her." The rest of the group thought the same.
"I have enough anxiety as it is with her risking her life to get us this information," Hotaka flustered. "Her finding the portal was a headache in of itself, but she's the only one who can perform this task without getting caught. There will be a chain of events leading up to the first battle. It may be weeks to months until she sends her first message."
The group asked questions. Hotaka and his friends answered as much as they could. Hotaka discussed battle plans if the enemy was at certain places. Plans were discarded or reformed to get the best result. It was hard forming plans without knowing all the information. The group kept training while taking the fruit as supplements. Their strength kept rising. Hoshimi kept in her small child demon form incase she got caught it was a worthy disguise. She would gather information, readjust the mechanisms that would open all the cages.
Hoshimi placed the fruit she grew into the vats. These vats also went to the four areas where the foxes were being held at. She wanted them to get their strength. Hoshimi created a self-feeding system that allowed the fruit be dumped into the vat every day. The next goal was to figure out where she was. She walked through the tunnels, caverns, and gorges. It was still dark and bleak with plants and fires as light sources. She headed into a tunnel that seemed to head upwards. Hoshimi kept going until she came across a teal and purple seal. It must have been the Master's. Hoshimi grabbed a seed out of her pocket to plant it next to the seal. Vines grew to replicate the seal. It then pushed the boulders away to let her view the scenery outside. She had to blind her eyes with the view of the natural light spilling in. She took in what she could before making the vines bring the rocks back into their original spot. She touched the vines, it withered away into ash.
There were footsteps approaching her direction. She escaped past them to the secret door leading to the foxes. She rested on Kurama's glass. It had been an endearing few days.
"If they catch you, it will be trouble," Kurama chided as he was trying to get rest. Hoshimi jumped off the glass onto the ground. The flower that hid her, grew again. She hopped in it, the petals closing around her. It sunk back into the ground. "I'm the only one who gets to catch you." He stared at the spot she was at. The rest of the foxes shivered at his threat.
A plant, that was like the one Hoshimi was hiding in, was glowing. Sora spotted the glowing flower. He ran to Hotaka, who was with Yusuke and Hiei. Hotaka ran past him and headed to the flower. The three followed him.
"Brother?" The plant glowed. "Brother?" Hoshimi's voice came from the plant.
"I'm here Hoshimi!" He touched the plant. The bud bloomed allowing them to see glowing pollen swirling around.
"I've found the hideout," Hoshimi spoke as the pollen formed a three-dimensional image. "I've started the chain of events."
"You haven't met him yet," Hotaka clarified.
"No," Hoshimi hesitated.
"Have you found Kurama?" Yusuke butted in.
"Yes," Hoshimi spoke with a smile. Hiei was relieved. "It's worse than we imagined." Her voice went somber. "I'll need more time." The petals reformed a bud.
"More time?" Yusuke looked to Hotaka. "The surprise attack has a better advantage."
"A surprise attack may be sound but she was hesitant," Hiei stopped Yusuke. "Kurama is in a place he can't escape."
"So much for him being so smart," Yusuke growled. "If he keeps this up, his antics are going to be the same as mine."
Hiei opened his eyes. "You would have created a mess if you got caught, then again it would be easier. You have too much angst. Maybe you need to see Keiko." He smirked at the end.
Yusuke blushed. "WHAT?"
"Keep us informed," Hiei started to walk away.
"Hey!" Yusuke stared at Hotaka who was giving him a curious look. Yusuke trotted after Hiei. Hotaka just chuckled.
Hiei and Yusuke split up after leaving the castle. Hiei headed over to the insect vehicle Mukuro lived in. He walked into her chamber. She was lounging on her bed. Her eyes closed. "Did she find him?" She asked.
"Yes, he's hidden in an area none of us would have found, not even my Jagan would see it," he leaned against the wall.
"Do we have a date when to attack?" Her eyes flashed.
"Who knows?" Hiei smirked. "Soon I hope. The fruit is giving me more power which allows me to have more control over the Dragon of the Darkness Flame. I'm itching to use it."
"Impatient," she glanced at him.
He took her hint by opening his eyes while heading over to her. "I told Yusuke the same thing. I suggested him to find Keiko."
"You should take your own advice," Mukuro winked. Hiei scoffed. His lips pressed unto hers with force. Hiei climbed on top of her continuing their intimacy.
Yusuke headed back to the houses holding the other elite soldiers.
"Yusuke!" Jin's ears fidgeted. He was floating in the air with is feet crossed.
"Anything new?" Toya was about to eat the fruit that had been harvested.
"We're getting close," Yusuke didn't want to give out information just yet. "Hoshimi successfully infiltrated the enemy and found Kurama."
"She's okay, right?" Shishi was perched on Suzuki's shoulder.
Yusuke nodded. "She didn't give any further information but so far she is okay."
"This is getting messed up," Rinku sighed. "Our world is now going to become a battle ground. I want to go back to the island."
Chu rubbed his head. "Yeah same 'ere!"
The group rested in the house trying to cheer each other up since they were miserable about the waiting period.
"Hey Yusuke," Suzuki was sitting at the table. "I hear you have a bet amongst the four of you." The others were interested in what kind of bet it was.
"Who did you hear the bet from?" Yusuke brushed it off as he grabbed for a drink.
Suzuki and Shishi looked at one another before he continued. "About who makes peace with the enemy first, wins."
Yusuke spewed out his drink. The others had to retract and wipe themselves off. Yusuke flinched. "I know it sounds bad but it's-it's really about making sure we don't end up losers in reality." Yusuke tried lie. It somehow passed. The others agreed. He let out a small sigh.