Drowning in Flames Ch 37
Very Little Rest for the Weary
Mukuro sat in her office looking over some paperwork, still bandaged up and on natural medicines to combat the poison used on her. It had been days since Shadows abduction and she was not yet aware of her rescue. The tournament had been postponed due to Ashis interruption and Enki was for the time being acting King. All of this of course meant piles of paperwork to go through; proposals from the tournament committee, demands for explanations to elected officials, plans of action and mobilizing of armies in a joint effort to prepare for the possible war, etc. All of which were giving her the headache of the ages.
A sudden and loud pop broke her from her concentration. She had barely looked up when her guards burst into the room, weapons at the ready. Upon recognizing her guest she stood and greeted him.
"King Enma, this is a rarity. Guards you may go. I can handle this."
"Yes, Lord Mukuro." They bowed and left the two leaders to talk.
Once gone, she gave a defiant and stern stare to the Reikai King.
"Ok, Enma, talk. I'm aware of your orders for Shadows execution and you know damn well I will not be of aid to you. So why are you here?"
Enma seated himself in front of her desk and let out an audible sigh.
"I have retracted my orders and issued new ones. Your heir and his friends have found Shadow, alive, but failed to kill Ashi. They are on their way here as we speak. It is clear to me now that Shadow did not go willingly and has not joined with Ashi."
"Which should have been apparent from the beginning." She muttered.
"You know as well as I that one can not take chances with a possible threat such as this."
"Agreed but I also know to trust those five boys, your son included, when it comes to the character of a person. Nobody wants Ashi to pay more than she save for maybe Hiei."
"With something this big I could not afford to trust anyone or anything else but the intel I had. She's been a perceived threat for ages but now that I've seen that she is indeed with us and not him, I will cease my insistence on her destruction."
"Hmph, I'm sure that will bring great comfort to those who know her." She stated flatly as she leaned back in her chair.
"The sarcasm isn't needed, Mukuro."
"Needed or not you have it."
He pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. He did not much like being in the Makai nor did he like speaking with the Lords that ruled over it but duty is duty.
"I did not come here to be disrespected. I came here to ask for your help, not in her execution but in explaining to the group their next mission. I'm afraid my son is unreachable at the moment, no doubt because of this whole ordeal."
"I am aware of his whereabouts. Children tend to confide in their friends when their parents have disappointed them." She smiled at his displeased stare. "Tell me the details and I might explain them to him and the others if it is not outlandish and foolish."
The two locked glares momentarily before he proceeded.
"Ashi will go for the Koorime."
"Good for him."
"Mukuro.."
"What? Who cares if he burns those heartless and useless women out of the sky? It's about damn time someone gave them a dose of their own medicine."
"I understand the feelings you have about them but none the less genocide of an entire race is something we need to avoid, even if they're demons."
She glared and he smirked, knowing he'd struck a nerve. It was childish payback for her smart mouth earlier but payback none the less.
"Not only that, but knowing he will go there gives us a unique opportunity. We know he will strike here so we can be there to intercept him. I want to send the Reikai Tantei and Shadow there to both protect the Koorime and defeat this bastard Ashi once and for all."
Mukuro stared at Enma with many thoughts running through her mind. She was fighting the urge to laugh at his request while finding the logic in it.
Yes, knowing that he would strike here gave them a huge advantage, even if they didn't know exactly when he would strike. Though, Ashi probably knows they'd try and take advantage. It wouldn't be a complete surprise so he could still prepare for a long battle rather than a quick hostile takeover of the ice maidens.
Not only this but Shadow and Hiei would most undoubtedly refuse to protect those who cast them out so long ago. Hiei himself had once found them for the purpose of their destruction but had decided against it, citing that they were dead already. No, she was fairly positive that they would not risk their lives for the cold women. They would, however, do practically anything to get back at Ashi and give him his long overdue death.
She sighed and ran her hand through what hair she did have.
"I can't make you any promises. I will inform your son of this and bring him here to inform the others. Shadow and Hiei will be hard to convince. Shadow wants nothing to do with them and Hiei once sought their destruction as badly as Ashi does. The others may not be so keen on the idea either all things considering."
"It is an official mission for them. If they refuse there will be consequences."
Mukuro shot up angrily from her chair, ignoring the sharp pains from the sudden movement.
"Listen here you pompous ass! You and spirit world have no power over any of those boys, no MEN, any longer. Hiei and Kurama have long since fulfilled their probations and have done nothing to warrant new sentences. Yusuke has even been on his best behavior and hasn't officially worked for you as spirit detective since he was a punk teenager. Kuwabara has never done a damn thing to warrant your wrath, and Shadow has been through enough already without you constantly threatening her. They are not yours to order around, they do what is asked of them because they care about their worlds and the people and demons within them. They do it because they are honorable men and good souls. They do it because they feel it is their duty. Don't you dare presume that you can order them around just because and don't think they are your lap dogs, ready to jump and bark at your command!"
The anger and embarrassment almost literally oozed from every pore as Enma tried to hide it. What she said was true, but he would never admit it. He stood and summoned a portal.
"I see my welcome has been over stayed. Pass along my orders and my warning. Good day."
With a pop he was gone and with that Mukuros office became ground zero. The loud bangs and roars prompted her guards to come rushing in once again.
"My lord! Are you alright!?"
"OUT!" She screamed at them, bits of furniture flying past them as they made their hasty retreats.
Breathing heavily she turned back to her office that was now in shambles. She rolled her eyes and slowly got to picking everything up and putting them back in their place. When the task was done she was in so much pain she almost destroyed everything again in frustration.
She sat down and tried to calm down but could only think of the sheer audacity of that man. Not even the boys annoyed her as much as the Reikai King.
When she had regained her composure she reached into her desk for her communicator and called Koenma.
In Tourin Koenma was happily partaking in conversation with Hokushin when his communicator went off. Excusing himself for a moment he flipped it open. Mukuros face filled his screen.
"Mukuro? What's happened?"
"You're father that's what's happened."
Fear filled the Princes' face, thinking that the worst had happened to Shadow.
"Calm down, Shadow is safe as far as I'm aware. King Enma came to my office and informed me that she had been found alive and that the boys are bringing her back here. He has rescinded the execution order and wants me to inform you and them that he has a mission."
Koenma sighed in relief but was immediately interested in this mission his father had in mind.
"I'm ecstatic that she has been found and more so that she is alive and on her way to a safe place. I'm relieved that he came to his senses but what of this mission so soon after her recovery?"
The look on her face did not give the young Reikai Prince any good vibes.
"That bad?"
She nodded.
"Yes, that bad. He presuming once again that Hiei and the others are his little servants that he can order around."
"What does he want?"
"For them to go and protect the Koorime."
"WHAT!? Come on even I know Hiei and Shadow won't do that."
She nodded in agreement.
"That's what I told him but he threatened that if they didn't that there would be consequences. About that time I made it clear he wasn't welcome anymore and he left."
Koenma closed his eyes and sighed angrily. Just when he thought his father was coming along he says something else stupid.
"I'll be there momentarily. We can both tell them after they all have rested. I'm sure the battle wasn't without its challenges. They'll need time."
"Agreed. They should be here soon. My patrols have reported their energy signals approaching the area. We'll be waiting for you."
With that the screen went black and Koenma was left in silence with a lot on his mind.
He agreed with his father in the sense that he wanted to stop Ashi and avoid genocide but he didn't feel like he had the right to ask this of his friends. The history there was too much for anyone to bear. After some thought he decided to go ahead and pose the job to them and stand by whatever they decided, whatever that may mean. There could always be another way and another time to stop Ashi, even if they weren't as sure and opportune as this.
He pocketed the communicator and rejoined Hokushin.
"Any news on Lady Shadow and the others, Sir?" He asked.
Koenma nodded, "They have found her. She's alive and they are all heading for Mukuros. I will be leaving now to join up with them. I do not know when Yusuke will return but I imagine he will at least for a little while to check on things here."
Hokushin smiled, rare for the serious monk.
"This is great news! I will inform the others of our Lords safe return. Good bye and come and stay with us anytime."
"Thank you for your hospitality. Good bye."
The two men bowed to each other and went their separate ways.
Back in Alaric Hiei and the others were just reaching the castle gates. Mukuro stood at the door, watching their approach. She saw Shadow limp in Hieis arms and for a moment feared what had happened to the girl.
They reached the steps and she could see the healing wound in her chest.
"What did the bastard do to her?"
Almost immediately the look on Hieis face told her that she had said the wrong thing.
"I had no choice." He answered, shame and guilt on his face, as he walked past her. She looked to the others for answers.
Kurama was the first to offer any answers.
"She's alive and will make it ok, Mukuro. Don't worry about that."
"But what happened to her?"
Yusuke growled and clenched his fists.
"The crazy fuck had her under his control somehow and had her attack Hiei. She would've killed him if he hadn't snapped her out of it. Snapping her out of it in itself would've killed him if his aim had been off."
"Yusuke, are you telling me Hiei ran his sword through her to break Ashis control over her?"
"Not exactly. Was more like he stabbed her in the chest with her own dagger."
"Way to be blunt Urameshi." Kuwabara grunted.
"Hey, how else am I supposed to say it, huh!? There's no real nice way or flowery way to say he stabbed her in the damn chest."
"Ok, enough! I get the picture."
The two men stopped bickering and flinched at her tone.
"Sheesh, sorry, Mukuro. Don't have to bite our heads off."
"My apologies, Yusuke. Your bickering and Shadows health have not been the only things on my mind today. I'm afraid I'm at wits end for today."
Kurama turned questioning eyes to her but she brushed him off.
"We'll talk of other things once Koenma is here and all of you have gotten some rest. We wait at least until morning. The sun is setting now and I myself could use some rest." With that she turned away and made for the inner hall of the castle.
The men nodded in silent agreement and followed her into the castle to join Hiei and Shadow, who had already found their room.
Hiei had drawn a bath for Shadow and was gently holding her in the water, washing the dirt and blood away. Yusuke and Kuwabara sat down in the main bed chamber while Kurama knocked on the bathroom door.
"Hiei, a word?"
"Busy, fox."
Kurama pushed the door open enough for him to squeeze in and closed it behind him.
"I believe I said I was busy." He growled as he poured water over her hair.
"I can see that but I will only be a moment. I sense something's going on. Mukuro won't speak of it until we have rested but Koenma will be joining us. I have a bad feeling about it."
"Hn, your feelings tend to be reliable. If both Mukuro and Koenma are in on this it would be something. For now let's wait and see. She is right, we do need rest. Especially Shadow. She's been through enough…"
"Hiei, you did what you had to. No one can blame you for that. If you hadn't she would have killed you and still been under his control. Then we would have all had to face her and the possibility of killing her or being killed by her."
Hiei didn't respond, he just finished rinsing the soap from her hair.
Kurama put a hand on his shoulder.
"My friend, you did the right thing."
"Hn." He stood up, seemingly brushing off Kuramas reassurances but thankful he had said anything. He never wanted to harm her and nearly killing her was killing him.
He grabbed a towel off the shelf and asked Kuramas help getting her out of the water to dry her. Kurama held her as he used to towel and his ki to dry and warm her.
He carried her out the door to their bed and laid her down to rest, covering her up snuggly to keep her warm. He then turned to his friends, all beaten and exhausted as he was, and spoke.
"Things aren't going to get any easier from here. I don't know what Mukuro has to say but I do know Ashi is still out there and his capabilities… are greater than we first assumed. Tomorrow we need to start new training based on the battles we've fought and what intel we could get. We can't let what happened at the tournament happen again."
"I agree but with one stipulation. Shadow needs to be checked out by one of the healers before she attends training. We're still not sure how Ashi was able to control her and unless she can tell us when she wakes she needs to be examined." Kurama said, rubbing his chin between his thumb and forefinger thoughtfully.
"Agreed. If we had the time I would have her rest for a couple of days but I sense that we won't have much time."
"Yeah, if binky breath is gonna be here soon I imagine its not gonna be a social call." Yusuke grumbled.
Kuwabara sat in silence but agreed with the others. Inside he groaned with dread. His training would be more intensive as a human. His shields were of little use against Ashi in the latest battle. He tried to explain it away as he was too worn out from helping Hiei clear his thoughts to find Shadow but he couldn't help feel that he could have done more, could have been stronger. Tomorrow he would push himself harder so he could be there for his friends.
The four men made small talk for a little longer before parting ways for the night. With the others gone and the lights put out, Hiei slipped into bed beside Shadow. He pulled her to him and held her close and possessively. All the anger, fear, worry, guilt, and shame bled together and spilled forth. He brushed the gems that formed from the bed, the clinks and clacks ringing out as they hit the floor. He inhaled deeply her scent, the scent of peace and comfort, and calmed down a bit.
He opened his eyes and saw the moonlight on her sleeping face. He cupped her cheek and vowed to do everything in his power to kill Ashi so that they may live in peace. He knew there may be other cases and other bad guys but this one was too close, too personal, too powerful. His other hand hovered above her belly. He wanted them to have a family one day, to start off where they left off. With Ashi in the picture, I could never be so. With him gone they could be at peace.
He kissed her lips softly before finally falling into his own dreamless sleep.