Author: babyg @ babygxpress

Chapter 22: Deceit

"So, you're in the Sacred Room of Heaven. I've found you, Miramei."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Eeh......?" Natsumi eyes fluttered open. At first, her surroundings seemed blur, but after a few more blinks she started to recognize where she was. The sun was shining brightly outside. Her right hand grasped the side of her forehead. Her head was pounding, for no obvious reason except that she probably had a bad night's sleep.

"What the hell....." She groaned, throwing off the blankets. What did I do yesterday? How did I end up here?

"Good morning, my dear Natsumi."

Her head shot up. Kougaiji was standing at the foot of the bed, smiling brightly. She smiled too; He looked so sweet. She moved closer to him and hugged him.

"Kougaiji... I'm so glad. That you are by my side each time I open my eyes. Ne, you won't leave me anymore, right?" She looked up at him.

Kougaiji was caught stunned. Momentarily again, Kougaiji regained control of his body from Akuma.

"Natsumi! Natsumi, I will never leave you! But... you're in danger now! Don't get seduce-" He knocked his head involuntarily.

What are you doing, bastard? Don't foil my plans! After I get my Miramei, you can have her for all I care!

"Er... Kougaiji? What did you just tell me?"

"Nothing, my dear. I just meant, although you're in danger, I'll always be by your side. Always." Kougaiji lifted her chin up and kissed her, but his eyes were cold as steel.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Ahhh, ero kappa ! You stole my food from right under my noise! Give them back!"

"Did you write your name? No? Then it's 'finders keepers'."

"Idiot! Who would write their name on the buns?!"

"Ar... stomach-brained monkey do you want to fight?"

"My pleasure!"

Konzen squeezed his fists tightly, veins appearing all over his head. Not able to contain his anger anymore, he burst out: "Uruse, you irritating kids!!" *Whack whack*

"Itai! Konzen, I don't deserve that!"

"Neither did I, namagusa bouzu!" *pulls Konzen beloved ponytail ^_^*

"Yargh... yaroooo!!"

Hakkai, sitting at the table, grinned at the three men who were all over each other on the floor, pinching each other's cheeks ^_^.

"My, my, another peaceful day we have here."

"Ohayooo!"

Hakkai looked up. "Ah, Natsumi-san! Domo." He sweat dropped when he caught her expression at the three guys in front of her. "Er, don't mind them it's really normal...."

"Waah baka Konzen!! I didn't know the three of you were interested in yaoi! ^_^"

The three of them looked up.

"Ahh.... I wouldn't want to have an affair with an animal and a monk, thank very much!"

"Natsumi! What's yaoi?"

"Ch'." Konzen got up most unceremoniously, and seated himself at the table. "Hakkai, give me some tea."

"Hai,hai Konzen-sama...."

"Shin-e no ka!"

"Natsumi! You haven't answered me! What's yaoi?"

Natsumi grinned mischievously at the insistent Goku.

"Well, you see, it's when there's a relationship between a man and a man..."

"Me and Konzen have a relationship and both of us are men! Are we considered yaoi?"

"^_^;; It depends on what you do..."

"Yeah, zaru, look. It's when the two men *bleep* this, and *bleep* that, and together they *bleep* each other." Gojou explained enthusiastically making hand motions. Goku's eyes became wider and wider as he tried to make sense of Gojou's motions.

"Eh... Gojou, do you think it's right to teach a small kid that? ^^;;" Hakkai asked.

"Wahh! Me and Sanzo used to do that!" Goku exclaimed; (he misinterpreted the hand motions, people!)

"Hontou ni?!" Gojou and Natsumi's jaws dropped open. Goku nodded enthusiastically.

Veins started appearing on Konzen's head. "I will kill all of you right now!" *bang bang bang* The shots rained on them as they scampered to avoid it.

"You're mean, Konzen! We did have-"

Konzen grabbed Goku by the collar angrily. "We did not, baka zaru! If you say that one more time!..." He started pinching Goku's cheeks.

Gojou folded his hands behind his head. "I see... they have a complicated relationship. Though we should just call the monk KINKY for wanting to do it with a monkey-"

The cold end of the gun pressed hard against Gojou's forehead. "Shin-e!!"

"Wah! Domo arigato, but I don't want to die just yet!"

After the mini chaos had settled down, thanks to Hakkai's interference, temporary peace ensued.

"Hey, Natsumi." Konzen looked up from the newspaper he was reading.

"Hai?"

"Where's Kougaiji?"

"Eh... he said he had to find Dokugakuji and the others.... just some small matter apparently. He'll be back soon, don't worry!" She smiled.

"Small matter, huh?" He reopened his newspaper. Who wants to worry about Him!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Yaone! Where's Kou?" The big-sized man barged into the control room. Yaone turned to look at him, her huge eyes mirroring his worry.

"We saw some amazing power indication on the radar. He's gone to check it out. He told me not to find him. But it's been 3 days already...." Her voice trailed off.

"Kusoo! Why didn't you tell me?" Dokugakuji knocked his fists together in frustration.

"Yo. I'm back."

Dokugakuji and Yaone turned to find him standing at the entrance.

"Kougaiji-sama! I am so glad!- I was so worried!" Yaone rushed towards him, tears brimming her eyes.

Kougaiji smiled, and for once reached out and hugged Yaone. She gasped in surprise. He bent down and whispered, "I'm glad too. I couldn't leave you alone for long, could I?"

He released her and walked towards Dokugakuji, smirking in satisfaction.

Boy, do you have a lot of female admirers around!

Baka yaro! Leave Yaone alone, she's got nothing to do with me. She's only my minion, but if you touch her I won't let you go!

You seem to like her much too. Maybe I should play a little with her before I go?

"Kou. Where did you go these three days without informing us of anything?"

"Ah. I checked out the power, And got Natsumi back." He started fiddling around with the controls on the motherboard, interested in the gadgets.

Yaone covered her hand over her mouth. He's found... Natsumi. They're together again. What was that hug for? Was he genuinely pleased to see me? Or...

Dokugakuji squinted in confusion at Kougaiji.

"Kou, is something bothering you? You never touch the controls. You always left it to Yaone remember? And where's Natsumi?"

Kougaiji abruptly turned. "She's with Sanzo-ikkou! I couldn't stop her by myself, so I came back for assistance. You don't mind, do you?"

"N-No. But.. they caught her or what? I thought she was in good terms with them?"

Kougaiji, not knowing what to say, pretended to break down instead and covered his face with his hands. "I... couldn't protect her. They... said I was the Devil.... and I...-" He felt a hand on his shoulder.

Yaone smiled gently at him. "Why don't we send our troops there and go retrieve back Natsumi? You must be missing her, what with getting her back and losing her all over again." Though it pains me, I'll do anything for you Kougaiji-sama.

"Will you Yaone?" He grasped his hands and stared into her eyes hopefully.

She felt strangely numb, staring into his red eyes.

"Of course! Lets go now!"

"Thank Yaone. Dokugakuji, go and collect our troops with her. I'll be out in a moment."

After the door closed behind them, Kougaiji started laughing. Soft, but slowly getting louder and more malicious. Everything's according to plan.

"Yaone, why did you agree so fast? Shouldn't we find out more?" Dokugakuji grabbed her shoulder. Yaone was walking so fast, marching even. She turned to him, her eyes strangely solid.

"We have to help him. Remember we pledged our lives to him. We shouldn't be asking questions, just do what he wants." She turned and walked off.

Something strange is going on. Dokugakuji looked after her thoughtfully.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"19 ! Yahoo, I win!"

"Not so fast, zaru. I got Blackjack!"

"No way! You switched the cards!

"Who says so? I wouldn't do such a low lying scummy thing like that!"

"I saw you! I saw you!"

"You did not! I won fair and square, give me back that plate!"

"Will not! It's mine since you cheated!"

"Maa.... Natsumi-san, what time is Kougaiji coming back?" Hakkai asked Natsumi, who looked extremely bored. At his question she immediately jumped up and smiled forcing herself to look cheerful.

"Don't worry, Hakkai! He'll be here soon; he promised me!"

"We don't wait for anyone you know. We must be off." Konzen spat.

""And where do you want to go? Huh?" Natsumi stared at him.

Unable to answer, Konzen ch'ed and went back to reading his newspaper.

Suddenly the inn's doors burst open. They all turned to see who was it. A group of youkai stood at the entrance, grinning maliciously.

"So, everyone is here! That's good! We will take your lives now!"

Dokugakuji appeared amidst the mist of flying youkai. "Don't hurt Natsumi-sama!"

"Ehh?" Natsumi stared open-eyed at the spectacle.

"What's this about, Dokugaku!" Gojou shouted as he avoided the rain of youkai.

"We received news that you had abducted Natsumi-sama. Saa, Natsumi-sama, lets go back." Yaone extended her hand to Natsumi.

"N-Nani?!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Thank you so much, dear Yaone." Kougaiji cackled, from above a cliff where he stood observing the chaos. He retreated back and then, with a jump, flew upwards towards the clouds.

He burst through the wispy cotton-like clouds and arrived in front of Heaven's Gates.

"The infamous Gates hummm... would they let a poor demon in? Well, I won't wait for the answer."

He blasted the Gates with one ball of 'chi.

"What the- Youkai?!" The guards saw as the mist of the blast dispersed. "Get the foul thing!"

"Foolish." Kougaiji yawned as he released blast after blast of 'chi. "Damn, I'm getting bored. Move out!" He ran through the crowd of guards, blasting each and everyone in his way.

Finally he stopped at the foot of a palace. Behind him lay mountains of Heaven's guards, all dead. He scratched his chin. "Now... it's the Sacred Room, isn't it?"

With some amazing navigation, he did not meet any Generals at all and soon reached a beautiful garden. Ai's garden. (babyg: Don't forget them!)

"What a beautiful place. To mask the deceit that has been going on up here." Kougaiji walked towards an opening.

"Stop right there, Intruder." A voice rang out, bright and clear.

Kougaiji turned around.

"You have the nerve to- what the? Kougaiji?" Ai exclaimed in surprise.

Taking advantage of the surprise, Kougaiji released his energy whose momentum threw Ai back until she knocked clean against a wall. He grinned sideways, looking very evil indeed.

Homura who had just arrived, saw Ai sprawled against a wall, blood pouring out of her.

"Ai!"

He turned towards Kougaiji, snarling in fury.

"AKUMA! So, you've finally come."

"Of course *kakaka*. I'm sorry; was I delayed?" He took a step towards the opening that lead to the Sacred Room, but Homura stopped him with a blast of 'chi.

"Your opponent is me now."

"Ooh, want to die a third time? I'm very proud that you chose me to be the one to send you to Hell. When you are there, don't worry, I'll visit you."

"Humph. Proud, aren't you? I'll fight seriously now. No more handicap."

He unclasped his handcuffs. They dropped to the floor with clink clank. Homura held his sword ready. "Now come, you dirty foul Devil!"

Kougaiji smiled. "Omoshiroi."

babyg: Erm... okay we're still no closer to the Miramei and Akuma meeting ---;; Sorry.... Never mind! Next chapter! Just wait for the next chapter, ne?! Babyg signing off now ^_^