Cheza's eyes rapidly moved back and forth as she read the book layed out in front of her. The gang had decided to hit the library to do research on the
Elementals. Kurama had split everyone up into teams, each team being assigned an Elemental. Yukina and Keiko were assigned to read up on Shukaku of the
wind; Kuwabara and Yusuke: Raijuu of lightning, Kurama and Hiei: Kauku of earth and Cheza: Kyuubi of fire.
The next island the ship would port of call at was the location of the Kyuubi of fire. From what information Cheza was able to gather so far she had found that
Kyuubi is a nine-tailed fox and the most powerful of the Elementals. He has an endless source of spirit energy that is created from the seal of fire located on his
chest. Cheza found this information unnerving, especially since the book mentions that Kyuubi is not only the strongest of the Elementals, but he has never
once been defeated making it impossible to judge just how strong he really is. Extremely powerful, never been defeated, a nine tailed fox meaning more than
likely he is stealthy and cunning, so far bad news.
Cheza turned the page, her eyes fell upon a red fox with nine tails, beside the furry critter a man with short red hair and crimson eyes. The man sported fox
ears and tail and his bare chest revealed a circular tattoo that remained constantly on fire(no doubt the seal of fire). Kyuubi appeared to be similar to
Youko, both rare nine tailed foxes and very powerful. The bold heading "attacks" jumped out at Cheza and she proceeded to read the information written
below it. Kyuubi uses his tail to create cyclones, his claws to rip his opponent to shreds, and his fur to shoot endless fire balls. Cheza let out a frustrated sigh
as she let the information soak in, this Kyuubi might possibly be the hardest opponent the gang has ever faced. "Is something wrong?" Cheza's eyes fell upon
a smiling Kurama, "Yes there is. I'm not sure we will be able to defeat Kyuubi." Kurama sat down in a chair next to Cheza, "May I?" Kurama asked referring to
the book in her hand. Cheza handed over the book and watched for Kurama's reaction after reading the information she had just read. Kurama showed no
emotion whatsoever, "There is a possibility Kyuubi has not yet been released, but if he has I will deal with him personally." Cheza noticed Kurama's eyes take
on a golden hint. "Are you sure you should take him on alone? The book says he's never been defeated and look here it says he has a sadistic personality!"
Kurama did not reply. "I guess that's a no…" Cheza commented.
/\/\/\/\/\/\That Night/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Kuwabara looked upward at the glass ceiling in the main room the gang relaxed in. Everyone had retired for the evening, Kuwabara had decided to sleep on
the couch so he would not freeze to death via Yukina. The ice maiden had a tendency to make the temperature in the room drop drastically in her sleep. The
sound of a door opening and closing caught the ginger's attention and he turned to see Cheza approaching, probably to get a glass of water or something.
"Can't sleep?" Cheza asked, yawning soon afterwards. "I just have a lot on my mind ya know." Cheza nodded, "I hear ya." Kuwabara laid back down and
stared up at the ceiling once more, "Ever since Ervin gave us that mermaid scale I haven't seen one of those creepy mermaids." "I guess that mermaid scale is
like mermaid repellent or something." A comfortable silence soon filled the air, Kuwabara stared out the glass ceiling one last time before closing his eyes.
Cheza placed her cup on the bar after finishing her glass of water. Her eyes drifted to the glass ceiling, Kuwabara was right the mermaids were being kept at
bay by the mermaid scale Irvin had given them. "Goodnight Kuwabara" Cheza remarked while walking past his spot on the couch. Kuwabara's eyes opened
and his gaze landed on the glass ceiling once again, the water above him was no longer clear but nearly pitch black. "Cheza what is that?" Cheza turned, her
eyes landing on the ceiling as well. "I don't know.." The two walked forward to get a better look, that's when they noticed what looked like a fin floating in the
murky water. Soon, the figure of a body appeared. "Is that..a person!?" Kuwabara exclaimed. Flowing red hair, a fish like tail, and dull lifeless crimson eyes
soon became semi-visible. "That's a mermaid..a dead mermaid." Cheza replied in a near whisper. "You don't think that fire elemental is responsible do you?"
Kuwabara asked. "We are getting pretty close to the second island, it's possible." Cheza and Kuwabara continued to stare up at the ceiling trying to get a
better view of the creature, suddenly the blood began to clear. Cheza let out a startled yelp as the mermaid man she had encountered nights before suddenly
appeared, he held the body of the dead mermaid girl in his arms. Flames danced in the merman's crimson eyes, clearly this mermaid girl had been someone
close to him. "Kuwabara look…" The deceased mermaid's face appeared badly burned, large gaping slash marks could be seen on her chest, the source of the
massive cloud of blood in the water. " I think it's safe to say Kyuubi has been released."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/next day/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/
"What the hell is going on Koenma?" The mini-ruler jumped as the sudden loud booming voice of Kuronue reached his ears. "Kuronue!? What..what are you
talking about? Is something the matter?" Kuronue crossed his arms, glaring daggers at Koenma. "I'm talking about that weird lightning creature that kept
throwing lightning bolts at me!" Koenma's eyes widened, " You've located Raijuu!? Where is he now?" A confused look fell upon the bat's chiseled features,
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you, I've seen some weird things in my time but nothing compares to what I saw last night." "Try me" the mini-ruler replied.
/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
After informing Koenma of his weird outing the prior night Koenma explained how someone was releasing each elemental one by and one. "Kurama and the
others have defeated Isonade, Raijuu is no longer a worry, that leaves Kaku of earth, Shukaku of wind, and Kyuubi of fire." "
So, their cruise ship vacation is nothing more than a mission in disguise." Kuronue replied while raising his left eyebrow. "Eh heh you caught me…anyways!"
Koenma exclaimed, blatantly attempting to change the subject. " I have confirmation that Shukaku of wind has yet to be released, I want you to locate the tool
of power the creature is sealed away in and bring it here." "Tool of power?" Kuronue questioned. "Yes, tool of power! BOTON!" Boton soon appeared, "Boton I
need you to take Kuronue to the last known location of the tool of power Kaku is sealed in. Explain to him what the tools of power are on the way!" Boton
nodded, "aye aye captain!"
/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Hiei stood at the stern of the ship, looking out at the island the ship was rapidly approaching. "Cinder island, be ready for anything." Kurama commented. Hiei
nodded, but said nothing. Volcanos could be seen off in the distance along with a village similar to the previous island. Kurama and Hiei turned after hearing
the sound of knuckles cracking, "Think we'd miss out on the fun guys?" Yusuke exclaimed with an eager grin, Kuwabara beside him.
/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
"Cheza? You aren't going down there are you?" Keiko asked with wide eyes. "I know Kurama forbade me to leave this ship, but I can help them. I'll find the
tool of power for them or at least try, what if they run into Kyuubi without it? they can't seal him back inside without it!" "How are you going to find it? you don't
even know what it looks like." Keiko asked. "I don't know, but I do know that I want to help them instead of sitting here and doing nothing!" Yukina looked
torn, wanting to help her friends but also not wanting to disobey the boys who made it very clear they did not want them to get off the ship. " I..I guess I could
help you search for this tool of power for a little while, but I wish to return in a couple hours." " I don't want you guys to get in trouble or hurt, it is best if you
stay here." Cheza replied. Keiko frowned, "Power in numbers! If you are going so are we!" Cheza smiled, " Thank you guys. Just..please be careful and stay
close together."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
"Where do we start looking?" Yukina asked while looking around. "Maybe we could start by asking people about Kyuubi" Keiko suggested. "Maybe we can find
a fire shrine somewhere too. The other tool of power was protected by a water goddess, wouldn't that mean there is a fire goddess somewhere on this
island?" Cheza nodded, "I think so, but Kyuubi has been released already that might mean she and her guardian have been killed." Keiko grabbed hold of
Cheza and Yukina's hands, "You see that old man over there? He's been watching us this whole time. I bet he knows something about Kyuubi, lets go ask
him."
Yukina and Cheza exchanged uneasy glances, but followed alongside Keiko. "Hello there" came a raspy male voice. Keiko smiled, "Excuse me sir, but I wanted
to ask you if you knew anything about the elemental Kyuubi?" The man's smile suddenly vanished, quickly he glanced around him. He looked scared, very
scared. "He's close, I..I refuse to say anymore. His sense of hearing is superb, he will surely kill me if I give away his location." The old man replied in a near
whisper. The girls exchanged glances, " At least answer this, do you know where the tool of power that seals him away is?" The old man stiffened, shaking
slightly he glanced around cautiously. "Cinder cave" the man replied so low that Cheza barely made out what he said. "Thank you" Cheza replied and motioned
for the girls to follow her.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The girls found themselves navigating through a thick forest after getting directions from a local. After walking 40 minutes or so the girls came across the cave,
the entrance hidden away behind plants and numerous vines. "It's pitch black in there, how will we see?" Cheza bent down having noticed an awfully familiar
white glowing flower on the ground near her feet. "Hey, these are lamp weeds." Yukina and Keiko picked two each, "This Kyuubi is a nine tailed fox like Kurama
right? so he has the power to manipulate plants too then?" "From what I've read he uses his claws to slash at you, his fur to shoot fireballs and his tails to
create cyclones. There was nothing about him having the power to manipulate plants, but I'm positive these lamps weeds aren't hear by coincidence." Cheza
replied.
"I don't think we will find Kyuubi here, it doesn't look like he's been here for a while." Cheza remarked. Yukina and Keiko nodded and the three entered the
cave now lit by the lamp weeds. After about half an hour the girls came to a large cavern located inside the cave. A deep pool of water could be seen glistening
in the center of the cave.
"This cave is too big, we'll never find it" Keiko commented while sitting down on a nearby boulder. "I think we should head back soon, we've been gone nearly
2 hours now." Yukina commented. Cheza sighed, "I guess we should head back..before Kurama finds out we left the ship." The girls nodded in agreement and
the three began to walk back. Cheza came to a halt, looking back at the pool of water off in the distance. "Hey wait right here" Cheza commented before
running off towards the pool of water. "Cheza? Where are you going?" Keiko asked while running after her, Yukina close behind.
Keiko and Yukina exchanged glances after noticing Cheza was staring at something in the water. "look" Cheza commented while pointing towards a massive
dark object barely visible near the bottom of the pool of water. "I'm going in!" Cheza exclaimed. Before either girl could protest she had already dove into the
water.
The girls watched as Cheza took hold of the object she had been pointing at, a white glowing light began to emit from it. Soon, Cheza emerged gasping for
breath. "I think we have our tool of power!" Cheza exclaimed. "A giant..clam shell?" Keiko asked while examining the clam skeptically. "It has the same seal of
fire that Kyuubi has on his chest and it has weird glow to it. Maybe whoever sealed him away the first time had to be resourceful and use whatever was
around at the time." "How was Kyuubi sealed away the first time anyway? I thought he had never been defeated before?" Keiko asked. "You are correct little
human girl, I have never been defeated. The man who sealed me away sacrificed his life, what a slow painful death he suffered." Yukina, Keiko and Cheza spun
around catching site of none other than Kyuubi. "So you plan on sealing me away once more do you?" The nine tailed fox stared intently at Cheza, who held
the tool of power in her hands. His held titled to the side and he licked his lips, "You will not get out of this cave alive human girl." Suddenly, a barrage of
fireballs came hurdling at the girls. Keiko and Cheza shut their eyes and braced for impact, nothing came. The girls scrambled to their feet having realized
Yukina saved their lives. The koorime had generated a thick wall of ice to protect them. "What..now?" Keiko asked with wide eyes as Kyuubi began to walk
towards them.
End of chapter
