Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Added: The following disclaimer(s) applies to this and all future chapters.
I do not own nor make a profit by mentioning Gatorade. It belongs to Pepsi Company, Quaker Oats Company, Stokely-Van Camp, and anyone else I missed.
I do not own, know, nor make a profit by mentioning the runner, Carl Lewis. He belongs to himself as he is a human and can not be owned.
I do not own nor make a profit by mentioning the game called Deadly Moves. This includes all merchandise. It belongs to Samsung, Kaneko, System Vision, and anyone else I missed.
I do not own nor make a profit by mentioning video game Donkey Kong. This includes all merchandise, cartoon/tv shows, videogames, ect. It belongs to Nintendo, Rare, Namco, Paon, Retro Studios, Shigeru Miyamoto, and anyone else I missed.
Warnings: See Chapter One.
Chapter 7: Round Two. Fight!
The group walked down a hallway. After Byakko had returned, he had told them to follow him before disappearing into the opening of the other tower.
"Did I hear that over grown flea bag right? The room from hell?" Kuwabara asked, a bit freaked as he walked along side Yusuke.
"Whatever it is, it's this way." Yusuke said as they continued to walk.
The group continued in silence, all feeling the dread that lay ahead. They saw a soft orange glow coming from the opening at the end of the hallway. It seemed to get a bit hotter as well, the closer they got to it.
They finally entered the room and looked around in awe.
"What the?!" Yusuke said with amazed eyes.
"Where are we?" Kuwabara asked, also as amazed.
They found themselves standing on a small edge. There was a huge gap between where they and the next entrance. The only way to reach the other side was a bunch of platforms, which were scattered around the room. The group glanced down to see not only were they very high up but the ground was lava!
Yusuke looked down at the bubbling lava.
"A serious slice of hell, all right." he said with a gulp.
"One slip and it's game over, man." Kuwabara said with a nod and his own gulp.
Joann stood there feeling the heat of the room. She was happy that her shirt was a tank top. She was also grateful that she ripped the pant leg to her knee. However the other leg was hot. She sighed before bending down and ripping that off.
"What are you doing?!" Kuwabara asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's too hot in here to wear long pants. Besides, it's uneven." she said with a sigh.
Joann didn't have OCD but it was still aggravating having one side shorter than the other. She let out a relieved sigh. It was still hot but it was more bearable.
Byakko seemed to ignore the little chatter.
"This is my special room. Quite a sight isn't it? My favorite touch is the acid bath below! It'll eat you down to your bones! Anyone got the nerve to come down and fight me, now?" Byakko said with a laugh.
"If not, I will have to pick one of you." he said before looking between Kuwabara and Joann.
Both shivered at the look. Kuwabara shifted slightly in front of Joann, who didn't notice this time. Yusuke growled before cracking his neck.
"Room from Hell, eh? Dunno how many of your lives are left, but I'm gonna finish 'em all off!" Yusuke said, taking a step towards one of the platforms.
Kuwabara stopped him, by placing his hand on his rival's shoulder. Yusuke blinked before turning to look at him.
"Hold it. He's still mine!" Kuwabara said with determination in his eyes.
"C'mon man..." Yusuke said.
Yusuke wasn't sure Kuwabara could handle another round. Especially since he just got all of his aura back. He also wasn't a fan of seeing Kuwabara almost get killed. He knew too many more times of that happening and he might have a heart attack.
"You fought well, but it's Yusuke's turn." Hiei said, grabbing everyone's attention.
"We'll have use for you later, I think." Hiei added, not wanting to show how much he respected the teen.
"Take a break? No flippin way! This ain't baseball, shorty! I'm not tossin' the ball to a reliever and going to the dugout to sip Gatorade." Kuwabara growled as he stared straight at the fire demon.
He turned determined eyes towards Byakko.
"I'll see this one out!"
"Hmph. Such irrational creatures...!" said Hiei.
"Stubborn son of a..." started Yusuke.
"He kind of reminds me of you." Kurama said with a smile.
Joann smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Besties!"
Kuwabara and Yusuke turned to the girl and growled.
"Well? What's the hold up? Scared?" taunted Byakko.
He was starting to get aggravated. These pests had already wasted his time. He had better things to do. Not to mention, he was getting hungry for their flesh.
"Shut yer yap, moron! I'll be right down!" said Kuwabara, also getting pissed.
Kuwabara walked up to the edge of the cliff before jumping to the closest platform. He landed on the very edge of it, despite it being close. It was weaker than the carrot top figured, as the part he landed on began to crumble. Kuwabara's eyes widened before he began to fall with the crumbling rubble. Luckily he was able to scramble and grab onto the 'new' edge of the platform. He looked down, watching the pieces of rubble melt in the lava below. He let out a sigh of relief before pulling himself up.
"That...was close. Not a great start to this round." Kuwabara said
"Hey! We can still switch!" said Yusuke.
"No way! That was just a dramatic flourish!" said Kuwabara turning to Yusuke.
Joann had felt her heart stop. She let out a relieved sigh.
"Just be careful!" she shouted.
Kuwabara looked at her. She looked worried and it made him feel bad. He had to be extra careful.
"Don't worry about me Carson-san. I know what I'm doing." Kuwabara said before turning back towards Byakko.
"Joann!" Joann huffed with a pout.
Yusuke snickered. He wasn't sure why Kuwabara didn't call the girl by her first name. She let himself use it. And he wasn't as close as the carrot top was with her!
Kuwabara could feel the heat from the lava below. He fanned himself.
"Man, it's hot in here." he took off his jacket school jacket.
Kuwabara stood there in just his school pants, the make shit gauze on his shoulder, and some bandages wrapped around his waist. He still had to wear them for his ribcage. Sure they weren't hurting but they were still a bit damaged. Although, they were healing quicker than the doctors thought, like every other injury he received from Rando.
"Okay, whiskers, let's get down to it! I'll finish you this time!"
Joann couldn't help but stare at his naked chest. She hadn't seen him without a shirt on, even after all this time living with him. He would change in the bathroom or she would knock before entering his room. Like everything else, it was better in person.
Byakko began to make a hacking noise from his throat. Everyone was staring at the cat as his paws were around his own throat.
"Oh yes, I'm a cat! Wanna see my version of a hairball?" Byakko said with an evil smirk.
He began to hack, just like a cat. Energy began to surround the opening of the cat's mouth. After a couple more disgusting hacking sounds, the cat spat out a hairball. It was surrounded by an electric looking energy. It wasn't moving too fast, so easy to avoid.
Kuwabara grinned before summoning his Spirit Sword. He got into a batting position.
"Eh?! What a pathetic pitch! I'll send it back at'cha with a Tokyo high two-run walk-off homer!" said Kuwabara.
Joann laughed.
"I got a bat right here if you want!" she said with a laugh.
Kuwabara was about to say something snarky back.
"Look out!" Kurama shouted with worry.
Kuwabara glanced back at the redhead.
"Don't swing at that! Jump off that pylon! Hurry!"
Kuwabara continued to look at the redhead for a moment longer before standing up. He turned towards another pylon. He easily jumped to another pylon.
"Sure, but why?" he asked before turning back towards the pylon he just jumped from.
Just after the carrot top asked the question, it was answered. Once the hairball touched down on the pylon, it exploded and crumbled. Kuwabara's eyes widened in both shock and fear.
"Yikes!" Kuwabara shouted.
"See that?! My Tiger Shatter Scream! It reduces anything it hits to dust! " said Byakko.
"I'd heard of a demon that could produce sonic blasts that shatter molecular bonding! It's Byakko?!" Hiei said a bit shocked.
"Sonic blasts? Like sound waves?" Joann asked, looking at the fire demon.
"Sort of." Kurama said with a nod.
"There really isn't a name for it. The closest description would be to call it a sonic blast." Kurama said.
Joann nodded. She could feel so much power come from the attack. She could see why it would be called sonic.
"So what you're saying the only way for Kuwabara to beat that is..." Joann started.
"to avoid getting hit!" Hiei said in confirmation of Joann's fears.
Joann turned back to Kuwabara.
"Kuwabara! You have to jump away from those things!" she shouted.
"What'dya think I'm doin'? I'm not playin' leapfrog for kicks!" Kuwabara said as he jumped onto another pylon.
He yelped as one of the attacks almost got him.
Byakko began to laugh.
"Keep dodging! You'll run out of space!"
Kuwabara landed on another pylon. He looked around to see where to jump to next. But it seemed the cat was right. There were no more pylons close enough for him to easily jump to.
"Crap!" Kuwabara said in frustration.
"What's the matter? Plenty of platforms over here! You'd just have to jump two meters father than Carl Lewis! Without a running start!" laughed a confident Byakko.
Kuwabara growled as he stood there like a sitting duck.
Byakko had his clawed right hand grow five inches longer, before bringing it back as if to attack.
"Nothing to say? Speechless in the face of death? Try begging for you life! Or wetting your pants! Perhaps I'll show mercy..." he said, before punching his fist forwards, sending his claws at Kuwabara.
"Or not! "
Kuwabara held up his spirit sword. He used it to deflect the incoming attack. It worked for a little while. But some of the attack was able to hit his bare chest and arms. He grunted before dispelling his Spirit Sword.
Joann looked on in fear.
"Kuwabara!" she couldn't help but shout.
Kuwabara turned to see the worried look on the girl's face. He took in a breath. He was going to do something stupid. But he would make sure the rest of the guys would make it. He had it in his eyes as he looked at Joann. Joann could sense it.
"No!" she shouted, causing the guys to look at her.
Byakko began to hack up another hairball.
"DIE!" he roared after spitting out his powerful attack.
Kuwabara clenched his fists. He bent his knees. Hiei's eyes widened.
"He's gonna jump!" he said a bit shocked.
"Stop!" Joann shouted, fear filling her body.
Kuwabara ignored her shouts before running as quick as he could considering the short space he had to use. His foot pushed off the very edge of the platform, just as the hairball exploded it. Kuwabara got a slight boost from the explosion. He reached his hand out towards the very platon Byakko was standing on. The group watched in horror as Kuwabara began to fall.
"No!" shouted Yusuke, Joann, and even Kurama.
Byakko couldn't help but laugh.
"A mere five meters short! And the rest of you will soon follow..." Byakko said before looking straight at Joann.
Joann couldn't feel fear at the moment. Her heart had stopped. She was so upset that she didn't care if Byakko was about to attack her.
"Starting with you girl!" Byakko said with a growl.
"Not while I'm alive, fur ball!"
Everyone gasped at the voice. Kuwabara's body flew upwards heading straight towards the cat.
"It can't be!" Byakko said with wide eyes.
Everyone looked to where Kuwabara should have been burning to death. Kuwabara's Spirit Sword was stuck at the base of the platform Byakko was standing on.
"Clever! Using his aura sword as a vaulting pole!" Byakko said, a bit impressed.
Kuwabara growled as he began to soar straight at the cat.
"Like it or not fuzz butt...Hell's waiting for both of us!" Kuwabara shouted as he got closer, flying at the cat at an impressive speed.
"DIE!" yelled Kuwabara.
Kuwabara's fist was out and handed hard on Byakko's jaw. The cat stumbled backwards. The punch was so hard it caused him to loose his footing and fall off the platform. However, Kuwabara was still flying. The two could be heard as they both disappeared over the edge.
Joann screamed before running towards the closet platform.
"Joann!" Kurama shouted, his hand reaching for her.
Yusuke was right on the girl's heels.
"He can't!" Yusuke growled out as he caught up, easily to Joann.
The two were almost towards the platform Kuwabara had fallen off from.
Kurama had stayed back. He stared at the spot Kuwabara had disappeared. He saw some movement.
"Look!" Kurama shouted, pointing at something moving on the edge.
As Joann and Yusuke got closer, they could see it too. There hanging just by his chest bandage, was Kuwabara. It looked to have gotten caught on the edge and somehow was strong enough to hold him. Yusuke eyes turned from almost crying to joy.
"Wahhoo! Saved by a snag!" Yusuke shouted just as he and Joann reached the platform.
Yusuke had made it to Kuwabara before Joann. He pulled up the carrot top before starting to beat him up.
"You scared the livin' spit out of me! I thought you'd bought it for sure! Why didn't you holler sooner, ya dumb jerk?!"
"Ow ow ow! Knock it off, idiot! You'll drop me in the acid for real!" shouted Kuwabara, as he was still close to the edge of the platform.
Joann let out a huge relief before mentally kicking herself. She couldn't believe she forgot Kuwabara had made it. Yusuke backed off, just as Kurama and Hiei got to the platform. Kuwabara sighed before standing up. Joann went up to him and whacked him on his arm. It wasn't hard but Kuwabara still rubbed the spot. He blinked down at the girl.
"You seriously need to stop doing this!" she growled.
"Doing what?" Kuwabara asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Almost dying!" she said with a pout.
Kuwabara thought she looked so adorable. He shook his head.
"It's not my fault!" he growled.
"It seems he has the most remarkable luck." Hiei said giving the carrot top an impressed look.
"Care to go up against another demon?"
"No! That's it for me! I'm done!" Kuwabara said with a shake of his head.
"Even if he tried, I would stop him." Joann said with a firm nod.
Yusuke seemed to agree and nodded with her.
"As if you guys could stop me!" Kuwabara said with a huff.
"So you want to go another round?" Yusuke said with a snicker.
"I didn't say that!" Kuwabara growled.
"Great! Now I get my shot!" Yusuke said with a grin.
"Glory hound..." Kuwabara grumbled, crossing his arms over his still bare chest.
Joann couldn't help but shake her head. Kurama also couldn't smile.
The group decided to continue. They walked for a while until they reached another hallway. It had six doors.
"Which door should we take, Kuwabara?" Yusuke asked turning towards the carrot top.
He had already closed his eyes in concentration. Joann decided to try out her sixth sense as well. She closed her own eyes. The two tried to locate the right door. Kuwabara opened his eyes and pointed to one of the doors. Joann had opened her own at the same time, looking at the same door. She grinned a bit excitedly. She had got the same door, meaning it was the right door.
"Second one from the right. "
"Second from the right it is. " said Yusuke with a grin and nod.
"I dunno. You sure about this? " asked Hiei, glancing over to Yusuke.
"Huh! Doping out mazes and traps is my forte! " said Kuwabara with a big grin on his face.
The group entered the door and continued on their way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Back In Suzaku's Lair~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"They have someone with them who has a strong sixth sense. " said Seiryu, "It's enabling them to head straight for us while avoiding traps. "
"Heh, though there's only two of us left, Seiryu ." said Suzaku with a grin.
"Don't worry Master Suzaku. We've only seen the preliminary bouts. I, Seiryu, shall take them all out. After that, the human world is ours! " said Seiryu.
Suzaku grinned.
"Exactly."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Back With the Group~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The group walked down a hallway. At the end of hallway was another stairway.
"Are we almost there?" Joann asked with a sigh.
"I hope." Kuwabara said with his own sigh.
Kurama couldn't help but chuckle. He was feeling the same way, but was happy that he wasn't the only one. Hiei grunted in agreement. He wanted to just get this mission over with. Yusuke couldn't help but smirk.
"It's really like a video game, eh Joann?" Yusuke said remembering what the girl had said earlier.
Joann couldn't help but giggle and nod.
"You would know better than me eh? I heard you were tearing it up in Deadly Beasts while you were 'dead'." Joann said, putting dead in air quotes.
Yusuke couldn't help but snicker.
"I always did, even before I died." Yusuke said with a snicker.
"That's against a computer Urameshi. I bet I'd grind your character into dust!" Kuwabara said with a confident grin.
"Let's bring it on like Donkey Kong!" Yusuke said, seeming to get a little too excited.
"Why don't you guys finish this 'video game'." Joann said with a laugh.
Kurama couldn't help the chuckle at the comment. Hiei even smirked. Yusuke and Kuwabara huffed before noticing the stairway coming to the end.
There were two huge doors that lead out of the stairway. They were metallic. They had bronze bordering which fit the door's coloring. One each side of the door were a dragon statue. They were also bronze. One of the dragon's head was facing downward, it's tail wrapping around the base and platform it sat on. It's wings curve above its body.
The other dragon sat on top of it's platform with it's mouth open. It looked as if it roaring. Both wings were open and above the dragon. It's one clawed paw stretched forward, looking ready to attack. The bronze platforms they were sitting upon were both cracked. Even the dragons had some cracks in them. The walls were rotten around the doors, from age. It was obvious that the castle had been around for thousands of years. The owners didn't even take care of it.
"Phew! Pretentious decorator. " said Kuwabara looking around at the fancy looking entrance.
Hiei looked uninterested by what he saw.
'Bronze statues . Feh! Worthless. ' Hiei thought.
Joann was impressed as Kuwabara.
"They are beautiful..." she said.
"This must be Seiryu's chamber. A demonic aura is leaking out, more potent than the others! " Kurama said.
"I'll say! Goose bump city!" Kuwabara said while crossing his arms over his bare chest.
Joann couldn't help but walk towards the statues. She walked up to the dragon whose head was down. Her hand went towards the head.
"What are you doing?" Kuwabara asked a bit worried.
Joann ignored him and touched the bronze statue like it was a real dragon. It was cold, which made sense as it was only a statue. She could feel something pulsing from the two. It seemed they had absorbed energy from other's emotions. That was the only thing that made sense anyway. Since statues shouldn't be producing emotions.
She jumped back as the door opened with a creaking sound. Joann walked backwards, rejoining the group. Kuwabara shifted to be a bit ahead of the girl. His hands were fists at his sides.
The group looked at each other before heading through the doors.
In the middle of the room, a tall figure stood, though not as tall as Byakko. He looked more human than the previous beasts the group had faced. His skin was an ash blue. His outfit was similar to Hiei's except that it was a light blue color and was a bit fancy and shorter on the demon. His pants could be seen from the knees downward.
At the top of his outfit, close to the collar of his top, looked like a dragon wrapping it's tail around his body. The tail started from the lower right corner and wrapped up to his left shoulder. It disappeared over his left shoulder. A fin like extension was on his left shoulder and the head of the dragon reappeared on his right shoulder. There was another fin like extension on top of his right shoulder. He had a hat that was similar to Genkai's, resting on top of black hair that spiked out to the side from under the hat. The demon had a goatee and barely any eyebrows as his narrowed eyes stared at the group in front of him.
This was Seiryu, the Ice Demon of the Four Saint Beasts.
"Master Suzaku finds your petty activities highly vexing. This is as far as you go. " said Seiryu.
"I'll kill you all, after I've torn you limb from limb." he laughed.
"We've heard that before, shank! " said Yusuke.
Seiryu looked over the group and stopped at Joann. She shivered at the look. He seemed a bit satisfied before looking past the group towards the door. Joann blinked before looking behind her. She blinked. The doors were closed.
'Who closed the door?" Joann thought a bit confused.
A weak aura slowly came up from behind those doors. It was familiar but Joann wasn't sure why. It made her very uneasy though.
"Hmm ...We have an uninvited guest. " Seiryu said with an annoyed look.
Kuwabara seemed to sense the aura. He turned around. It felt familiar.
"Something dragging along ." he said, furrowing his eyebrows at the door.
"It's coming from down the hall." said Hiei, narrowing his eyes at the door.
The group turned towards the door. They were all tense and ready to fight, if they had to. Joann moved her hand up, as if ready to grab the bat from her bag.
Stumbling through the door was a smoking and deformed Byakko. His clothes were barely hanging on him. His hair was now a mess of burnt strings. Smoke streaming off Byakko's body. Joann couldn't help but cover her mouth in horror. She had seen this episode. It had looked horrible on the screen. But seeing it in real life made the girl want to vomit. The stench alone churned her stomach.
"H-help meeeee! S-Seiryu! " screeched Byakko.
"Byakko?! " everyone shouted in shock.
Byakko ignored the group and stumbled towards his comrade. The group jumped out of his way, continuing to stare at the cat.
"P-please, I need some energy -I'll repay you once I'm stronger. " Byakko said, stopping a few feet in front of Seiryu.
"Gawd, he's still alive?! " said a shocked and horrified Kuwabara.
"Too much, man." Said Yusuke, not being able to believe Byakko was still alive after being thrown in that lava pit.
Joann couldn't look away from the sight of Byakko. She could feel his despair and pain. Along with hope. However, the emotions coming for Seiryu made the girl shiver. It was so cold. He had not feelings towards his cat comrade.
"Fool. You are ridiculous and a failure. " said Seiryu.
"Seiryu! " shouted Byakko in shock.
"You are of no further use. In fact you're an eye sore. " said Seiryu.
Seiryu put his left foot towards the stumbling Byakko, his left hand out stretched towards the decaying beast. His right hand was at his right side in a fist. Byakko's eyes widened at the stance, taking a step backwards.
"Wait—that stance—Please " pleaded Byakko.
"Fall to the Ghostly Ice Fist! " shouted Seiryu as he punched his right fist forward.
A stream of white mist poured from Seiryu's fist.
"Whoa! " Yusuke said with wide eyes.
Everyone else watched in surprise as the cat became coated in a thin layer of ice. There stood a freezing and decaying Byakko. Without hesitation, Seiryu did a flying sidekick at the cat. The kick shattered the body into ice, only his head felt fully in tact.
"Holeeee " said Kuwabara with wide eyes.
"He killed one of his fellow beasts! " said Yusuke with disgust.
Joann covered her mouth as Byakko's head rolled to a stop.
Seiryu snorted a laugh.
"I laid 100 freezing punches at near absolute zero on him. No one save Master Suzaku can dodge such an assault. "
"Seiryu ...Why? " asked Byakko.
He wheezed out those last words. Blood dribbled down his open mouth as betrayal and hurt were in those cold frozen eyes of his.
Joann could sense so much hurt and sadness from the cat demon. Her hand went to her chest as the feeling was too much. She closed her eyes at the pain in her chest intensified.
"You've proven yourself weak and worthless. In short, you're a loser. " stated Seiryu.
He spat on his ex-comrade, his spit landing on Byakko's face. With one last grunt, Byakko's eyes rolled back into his head before his head went slack; dead. Flames were in Yusuke's eyes as he glared at the sight before him. His fists clenched as a low growl escaped his lips. The moment the cat died, the emotions left the room. Joann felt like she could breath again. However, the feeling still lingered. She turned pissed off eyes towards the ice demon.
"They have no sense of camaraderie. They're driven solely by greed and hunger. " Kurama said a look of pity and anger in his green orbs.
"I wanted to destroy him, but this is weird ...Wrong! He deserved better And I swear he'll get it! " said Kuwabara.
His teeth clenched as his body began to shake a bit, trying to contain his anger.
"Right on Kuwabara! And I'll do the honors! " said Yusuke.
He took a step forward, clenching his fists as he was ready to avenge Byakko's death.
"Wait, Yusuke."
Yusuke stopped in his tracks and turned.
Hiei's face was grim.
"Save that rage for later. You'll need it against Suzaku." Hiei said.
"But ..." started Yusuke.
Yusuke never saw that look in Hiei's eyes before. He looked ready to kill. He didn't look away from the ice demon. It seemed like what just happened to Byakko had become personal to Hiei himself. Yusuke nodded, as he could tell Hiei needed this kill more than Yusuke.
Kurama had known the fire demon for three years. Within that time, there were still a lot of things he didn't know about the fire demon. He didn't know anything of his past but Kurama wasn't the type to pry.
Kuwabara looked shocked at the fire demon. It seemed like he had some form of honor. Kuwabara respected that. It meant the little demon had a heart after all. But he wouldn't let the little shrimp know that.
Joann felt the emotions in Hiei. The abandonment. The anger that comes with that. The sorrow and pain of being betrayed by someone he cared about. She felt all of that pulsing off his body. She couldn't understand why Hiei felt that way. Although, she ever got to finish the entire show. Maybe it had to do with him and Yukina, his sister. Where they abandoned by their mother? That would explain why he was so protective of the ice maiden.
Hiei took off his cloak, revealing his bare chest. He tossed it over Byakko's head, not even looking.
Seiryu raised an eyebrow.
"What's this? A sentimental gesture? From you? I'd understood you to be like us—ruthless to the core. " said Seiryu.
An amused and displeased smile crossed those cracked vile lips of his. Hiei narrowed his eyes and glared. He bent low, his hand reaching for his sword.
"He's just as Seiryu described ...Or was. Yet he seems truly upset by what Seiryu's done. Self interest is not what moves him now, and it bewilders him ...What it means I can't say, but the battle aura surrounding him is the strongest I've ever felt. " said Kurama.
Kuwabara and Yusuke looked at Hiei.
"He feels Byakko's pain. "
The three boys turned towards Joann. She didn't realize she had said it out loud.
"I mean..." Joann started not sure how to explain it.
"He just does?" she said with a sweat drop.
This caused Yusuke and Kuwabara to sweat drop at her. Kurama understood what the girl was getting at and nodded. It meant that the scene brought back a memory of Hiei's past. Something similar must have happened to the fire demon. Kurama decided to leave that information in the back of his mind, for now.
The room's temperature dropped another ten degrees, a gust of wind coming from everywhere and nowhere all at the same time. It surrounded the two that stood in the center of the room. Both fighters stared each other down, both ready to attack.
"I'll crush you!" shouted Seiryu as he ran at Hiei.
Hiei's eyes narrowed as he ran towards Seiryu. It appeared to be a blur to the rest of the group. Although, it was more like slow motion to both Seiryu and Hiei. Hiei's sword was out and Seiryu's hand was forward, releasing his attack. Hiei brought his sword forward and in sixteen cuts, which appeared as only one slice, cut through Seiryu. Seiryu's eyes widened as a blood-curdling scream escaped his lips. Hiei landed with his back to Seiryu, in a crouching position. Seiryu's body crumbled behind Hiei.
Hiei slowly stood, straightening himself. He turned his head around, not finding the demon behind him worth facing him completely. Those dark red eyes matched the equally darkened face of Hiei as he stared straight at what was left of the ice demon that held no honor. Hiei's eyes held pure hatred and disgust at the demon.
"May I never see your face again. " His cold deep voice said from his snarling lips.
Everyone stood there stunned.
"Di-didya see that?! That was flippin ' awesome! " shouted Kuwabara.
"Heh , I saw , but last track after the first strike." said Kurama with a smile.
"I'm with you Kurama." Joann said with sideways grin.
Kurama looked at the girl and smiled back.
Yusuke shook his head clear of his own shock before going up to Hiei.
"Wow! That was amazing, Hiei! You laid him out in one go!"
Yusuke ran up to Hiei and stood next to him with a huge grin on his face.
"How many cuts? " asked Kurama, walking over to them.
Joann walked alongside the redhead.
"Sixteen." Said Hiei like it was nothing.
"Sixteen! Man, I only caught eight! " said Yusuke, scratching the back of his head.
"Your eyes are better than mine Yusuke. " said Kurama standing next to Yusuke.
"That guy was filleted before I even blinked " said Kuwabara walking over.
"You're fast Hiei! You could beat me hands down in a rematch I bet! " said Yusuke.
"Well ...maybe. " Hiei said.
He walked over to his cloak and picked it up. He looked down at Byakko for a moment and closed the demon's eyes. Hiei shook his head as if trying to push the emotions, the memories back into the depths of his mind. He shook out his cloak before wrapping it around himself and headed towards another doorway that led to another staircase.
"Huh? I don't get it. I thought he'd agree out right. " said Yusuke blinking after Hiei.
"He's changed since he's come here. You may be a good influence on him." said Kurama.
Yusuke blinked before watching Hiei leave the room for a moment, before the rest of the group followed behind the fire demon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Back In Suzaku's Lair~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suzaku growled in frustration. He tossed the crystal ball he had been using to watch the group. It shattered into pieces the moment it hit the ground.
"Fools!" Suzaku said, lightning flashing in the distance.
"I'll have to destroy them myself!" he growled as a fierce storm began to rage outside the castle.
A very pretty looking bird flew through the storm before entering the chamber.
"Master Suzaku!" the bird said as she landed in the open window.
He looked up at her with a glare.
"Oops." she said, noticing her master's foul mood.
"Ah, Murg." Suzaku said, seeming to be pleased to see the birl.
Murg looked across between a tropical parrot and a cockatoo.
"There you are." he said with a smile, as the bird flew over to her.
"It appears your three colleagues have failed. " Murg said, trying to stifle a giggle with her wing.
"Enough." he said a bit annoyed.
She was lucky he enjoyed her company.
"What have you found out about Yusuke Urameshi? " said Suzaku a scowl on his lips.
"Something interesting and I think useful. Peer into the human world. " she said.
Murg flew over to the other end of the room where a huge screen was. It had a beautiful gold frame around it. In front of the screen was an equally golden and decorative chair fit for those of royalty. The two turned their eyes to the screen. It turned from black to a colorful blur. The screen began to focus until a particular picture appeared on the screen. .
"This, unless I miss my guess, is his one weakness. " Murg said flying above her master.
"Oh? " Suzaku said interested.
"Keiko Yukimura! " said Murg "Urameshi's classmate and dearest friend! "
On the screen, Keiko appeared. She was still in her uniform as she was walking down the hallway of the middle school she and Yusuke attended.
"Friend? As in 'girl friend'? " asked an intrigued Suzaku.
"Close enough." giggled the bird.
"The relationship is platonic, yet most intimate. " she added.
"Very well. I'll direct my infested minions to her school. We'll toast the coming carnage with her fresh spilled blood. " said Suzaku bring a whistle to his lips.
"Urameshi will regret defying me. I'll lay her corpse out in state for his viewing. And now the overture. "
A beautiful yet eerie tune filled the room as Suzaku played the flute.
"You play a sweet tune, Master Suzaku. " Murg cooed.
(End of Chapter 7)