Disclaimer: You can keep reading this if you really want to, but I really
don't own Yu Yu Hakusho! I promise! This disclaimer is never going to say
that Amethyst Tiger owns the show, seriously it won't. However, if you need
the extra reassurance, I suppose I can keep putting these up, and you can
keep reading them . . . but if you ask me it's a waste of time . . . ^_^,
(Don't worry though, I need to remind myself of that every now and then
too! Shhhh . . . don't tell anyone!)
Author's Note: I still don't have anything of great importance to tell you guys. So, onward readers, and please enjoy. Thank you for your time!
Chapter: 9
"I see, so you work for Yomi, do you?" Asked Dimitre.
A dangerous glint shimmered in Kurama's golden eyes. "We DO NOT work for Yomi. He supplied us with information that is all. Yusuke is a valued friend, and HE is the only reason that we are here." Spat Kurama.
Hiei gently shook his head. The fox still held quite a grudge against Yomi, and he couldn't say that he blamed Kurama. When Keiko was out for that period of time, the horned king had made a daring attempt to get Kurama alone, and almost succeeded had it not been for Hiei's timely intervention. After that little incident they had decided to wander around the city rather than stay in the castle. Kurama hated to admit it, but the encounter had shaken him up a bit. He'd been more than happy to depart once Keiko woke up.
Hiei shook his head. Sometimes, he was very glad that Kurama didn't like to talk about his past very often. The fire youkai had a suspicious feeling that the story would be long, and involved, and probably mention more youkai than even Kurama himself could remember the names of. The ones that they'd encountered thus far had been far from pleasing, which made Hiei think that at one time the fox had had VERY bad taste . . . of coarse, it was possible that many of those youkai had not been friends or long term companions, and most likely personality had been one of the last thing on Kurama's list. It was hard for him to imagine what Youko Kurama used to be like; for all Hiei had ever known of him was the kind, intelligent, and sometimes crazy kitsune. The first thing to view him as an ally, as a friend. The first one to have ever put his trust in him, and to have disregarded that entire 'cursed forbidden child' name that the koorimes had so nicely bestowed upon him.
Hiei winced at the painful memory of his past. He decided to stop that particular thought process, thinking it wiser not to open old wounds. Instead, he diverted his attention back to the conversation, which had made some leeway since the time he had stopped listening.
"So you guys are old team mates of Yusuke's and you are his old fiancé. I see. Well, to tell you the truth, I'm ready to try anything. I haven't seen him in over a month, but then, I spend most of my time guarding the gates. I've done alright, but then, I've never come up against anyone as strong as Hiei or Kurama." Said Dimitre.
He was a handsome young lad, and looked as human as any ningen, save for those icy blue eyes that greatly resembled Touya's. He was slender, and yet well built with a normal skin tone (not light, not dark, but somewhere in the middle), and accented, high cheekbones. His hair was slick looking, and black as the night. It was held back into a thin ponytail that reached about the small of his back. His black kimono extended down, just above his knees, and the sleeves had been torn off at the shoulders. He wore the ningen equivalent of black, fingerless gloves that went up to the middle of his arm, and he wore baggy black trouser that were tucked into knee high black boots. He was much like Hiei in the sense that he didn't seem to smile, talked only when he deemed it necessary to, and probably lacked the world's best sense of humor. He struck both Kurama and Keiko as kind of an arrogant fellow.
"So, do you think you can help us?" Asked Keiko.
Dimitre turned his icy gaze on her, and she shivered involuntarily. "I don't think I can be of much use to your cause, but my friends can." He said, piercing gaze still on her.
"Your friends? Where are they?"
"Well, Tain is around here somewhere, the girls, Cimmy, Timerie, and Nissa, are all up at the castle."
Keiko suddenly became more enthused. "The castle. That's where Yusuke is?" She asked.
Kurama glanced at her, and then at Hiei, who glanced at him. With Keiko distracted they could eye contact talk without getting in trouble. Both of them wondered though what had happened to make the Makai's two most feared demons scared of getting in to trouble with a human girl? Were it any other girl it would be considered pitiful, but Keiko wasn't like other girls so they decided that they had some justification there, and that boosted their dignity a little more.
"Yes, at least, last I heard." Answered Dimitre, pushing a rogue strand of black hair back behind his ear.
"Well, so can you take us there?" She asked.
The young demon thought about it for a moment, but then shook his head. "We'd have to go through the city, and I wouldn't be your best guide. If you want to get to the castle, we'll have to find Kane, he knows the city like the back of his hand."
Keiko sighed. "So how do we kind Kane?"
"Find Tain."
"Well then, how do we find Tain?"
Dimitre glanced around their surroundings before putting two fingers to his mouth and sending out a shrill whistle that echoed through out the misty gray area. He was quiet then, and folded his arms across his chest. Keiko blinked.
"Um . . . so what now?" She asked.
Dimitre glanced over at her and then back to whatever he found so interesting on the ground. "Now we wait. It won't be long."
Another few minutes passed. They all sat in silence. There were still many unanswered questions, but no one was in the mood to talk necessarily. After all, Yusuke was so close! Why did they have to wait for a guide? Hiei was fast enough to avoid any danger, or at least that's how it felt. It was safer to have guide, but the three companions were more than a little anxious. Keiko was beginning to get nervous. What did they want from her? What could she say to her ex-fiancé after seven years? God, she just wanted to go home. She couldn't believe that she missed a flight to the U.S. just to end up on a shitty ass mission like this!
"You called?" Came a foreign voice.
Keiko looked up rather surprised, and found a young man standing in front of her. He had short, sandy blonde hair with long bangs that hung in his face, although, they did so rather tastefully. He wore simple dark brown pants with brown boots and a loose fitting, lighter brown shirt with wide sleeves that went over his hands so that they only revealed his fingertips. He had a somewhat tan complexion, and bright sea green eyes that seemed to sparkle like sun kissed water. He smiled easily at them all.
"Took you long enough." Said Dimitre with a scowl. Then he turned addressed Keiko, Hiei, and Kurama. "This is Tain."
The one called Tain stepped forward and took Keiko's hand into his own, and kissed it, Keiko blushed, and Tain winked.
"What's your name?" He asked, standing back to his full height.
"Ah . . . Keiko." She answered, the blush still present. Tain nodded.
"It's a pleasure, and who are you two?" He asked turning his attention toward the silver youko and the fire youkai.
"I'm Kurama, and this is Hiei." Said the youko, knowing very well that his friend would probably not answer.
Tain's bright eyes widened. "Y- you guys are . . . seriously? I mean . . . you- you're . . ." He sputtered.
Dimitre scowled and gave his friend a good smack in the back of the head. Tain stumbled forward a bit, and then glared up at the darkly clad demon next to him.
"Baka! Spit it out, we don't have time for your stuttering!"
Tain shook his head from side to side. "Hiei and Kurama? As in the infamous thief Youko Kurama and the merciless assassin Hiei?"
Kurama and Hiei exchanged glances. Kurama shrugged.
"Um . . . sure." He answered, although he and Hiei had been out of that type of business for quite some time. Their reputations still roamed around the Makai though, and that was, if anything, a benefit. It kept bothersome youkai away at least.
Keiko smiled. She liked Tain. He was a sweet heart, as well as a charmer. When the look of uneasiness spread across his fine features, Keiko felt bad for him.
"Oh, don't mind them. They've been out of that business for a while now. As long as you aren't evil they're as sweet as pussy cats, and Kurama is twice as soft." She said.
Kurama's cool expression faltered. Keiko winked at him, and Hiei snickered. For this he received a glare from the youko. Tain's care free expression returned upon seeing the trio's antics.
"So, what can we do ya for?" He asked happily.
Keiko smiled. "We need to get to the castle."
The green-eyed youkai scratched the back of his head. "Um, well you'll need Kane for that, didn't Dim to tell you?"
Keiko nodded. "That's why . . ." and she looked at Dimitre who was standing off to the side. She grinned mischievously. " . . . Dim . . . called you."
The dark haired demon looked up abruptly, and then down. Keiko swore she saw a blush. This guy was almost as fun to tease as Hiei was! Tain giggled.
"Give me just a minute." Said Tain.
His sea green eyes began to glow, and suddenly his entire body was covered in that light, then he disappeared completely.
Keiko's eyes went wide. "Ah, where . . . did he go?" She asked, pointing to the spot where he once stood.
"Hn. Water sprite." Came Hiei's reply.
Keiko looked at him with questioning eyes.
"It appears Tain is a sort of water demon. Rather gitty creatures that live underneath, in, or near bodies of water. Most of the time they are friendly, but one should always be cautious, as they have a tendency to be very tricky should they want something from you."
Dimitre cut in immediately after Hiei's explanation.
"Tain isn't like that." He said defensively. Hiei eyed him dully. "Tain isn't like that at all. He's a water sprite, yes, but he was banned from his clan because he wasn't like them, because he was different. He didn't appreciate their rules, or the way that they used others to achieve their own selfish goals. Tain believes in honor, and he believes that loyalty, trustworthiness, and work are the ways to obtain one's goals. He's always willing to help if it's for a good cause, but he never asks anything in return." Continued the icy eyed demon.
Keiko smiled. Dimitre was the type who stood up for his friends, and she admired that.
"I see. He's very lucky to have a friend like you around." She said. Dimitre looked away and gently shook his head. "No, I'm lucky." He whispered. Tain was his best friend, always had been. He had been the first one to have ever shown him any sort of compassion or sympathy. Dimitre had been cast out of his own clan as a child as well, and so when they meant up, Tain held a great amount of empathy for him. At first, he'd been reluctant to associate with the water sprite, but Tain had been persistent, and soon they had developed a friendship. As time went on they met up with Kane and Nissa, twins who had escaped from slavery, and then Timerie, a lone wanderer, followed by Cimmy, a rogue elfin demon. They had all banded together, and formed a tight knot of friendship, and kinship as well.
"How'd he do that?" Asked Keiko then.
Dimitre looked up from his trance like state. "Do what?"
"You know. Get all luminescent and then disappear."
"Oh, that's just one of his powers. All water sprites can do it. Basically, they control the element of water, and can dematerialize into it, so long as there is another body of water that they can rematerialize into."
Keiko let her eyes scan the area. She could make out the tall, shadowy frames of random structures. Probably buildings, but the mist impaired her eyes sight rather effectively. What she could see was gray, barren, and tired looking. It reminded her of dying leaves. The entire place seemed like it could dry up and blow away. She couldn't imagine there being a body of water anywhere.
"Are there large bodies around here?" She asked, still scanning the area.
Dimitre shook his head. "Used to be, but not so much anymore." He answered sadly.
"I see. Then, how do you expect him to find a place to rematerialize?" Now she looked over her shoulder at him.
"He doesn't require large quantities. It could be a puddle, a well, anything with even the slightest bit of water."
"Wow, that's pretty handy." Keiko replied rather absent-mindedly.
"He's back." Said Kurama suddenly.
"What?" Keiko asked, but did not have time for clarification, as the glowing figure reappeared in front of them all.
Abruptly, the glow disappeared revealing the ever-smiling Tain.
"Find him?" asked Dimitre.
Tain gave a slight nod of his head. "Yup, he said he'd be here in few."
"Is he far off?"
"Nah, not really."
"Good."
Dimitre turned toward Kurama, Hiei, and Keiko.
"Just remember. The city is dangerous, so keep your guard up." He said rather matter of factly.
"Thank you for your concern, but I don't believe we'll have to much to worry about." Replied Kurama.
Suddenly, his silver ears pricked up, and twitched, his tail swished back and forth, almost in a nervous action.
"Someone is here." He said.
Author's Note: I still don't have anything of great importance to tell you guys. So, onward readers, and please enjoy. Thank you for your time!
Chapter: 9
"I see, so you work for Yomi, do you?" Asked Dimitre.
A dangerous glint shimmered in Kurama's golden eyes. "We DO NOT work for Yomi. He supplied us with information that is all. Yusuke is a valued friend, and HE is the only reason that we are here." Spat Kurama.
Hiei gently shook his head. The fox still held quite a grudge against Yomi, and he couldn't say that he blamed Kurama. When Keiko was out for that period of time, the horned king had made a daring attempt to get Kurama alone, and almost succeeded had it not been for Hiei's timely intervention. After that little incident they had decided to wander around the city rather than stay in the castle. Kurama hated to admit it, but the encounter had shaken him up a bit. He'd been more than happy to depart once Keiko woke up.
Hiei shook his head. Sometimes, he was very glad that Kurama didn't like to talk about his past very often. The fire youkai had a suspicious feeling that the story would be long, and involved, and probably mention more youkai than even Kurama himself could remember the names of. The ones that they'd encountered thus far had been far from pleasing, which made Hiei think that at one time the fox had had VERY bad taste . . . of coarse, it was possible that many of those youkai had not been friends or long term companions, and most likely personality had been one of the last thing on Kurama's list. It was hard for him to imagine what Youko Kurama used to be like; for all Hiei had ever known of him was the kind, intelligent, and sometimes crazy kitsune. The first thing to view him as an ally, as a friend. The first one to have ever put his trust in him, and to have disregarded that entire 'cursed forbidden child' name that the koorimes had so nicely bestowed upon him.
Hiei winced at the painful memory of his past. He decided to stop that particular thought process, thinking it wiser not to open old wounds. Instead, he diverted his attention back to the conversation, which had made some leeway since the time he had stopped listening.
"So you guys are old team mates of Yusuke's and you are his old fiancé. I see. Well, to tell you the truth, I'm ready to try anything. I haven't seen him in over a month, but then, I spend most of my time guarding the gates. I've done alright, but then, I've never come up against anyone as strong as Hiei or Kurama." Said Dimitre.
He was a handsome young lad, and looked as human as any ningen, save for those icy blue eyes that greatly resembled Touya's. He was slender, and yet well built with a normal skin tone (not light, not dark, but somewhere in the middle), and accented, high cheekbones. His hair was slick looking, and black as the night. It was held back into a thin ponytail that reached about the small of his back. His black kimono extended down, just above his knees, and the sleeves had been torn off at the shoulders. He wore the ningen equivalent of black, fingerless gloves that went up to the middle of his arm, and he wore baggy black trouser that were tucked into knee high black boots. He was much like Hiei in the sense that he didn't seem to smile, talked only when he deemed it necessary to, and probably lacked the world's best sense of humor. He struck both Kurama and Keiko as kind of an arrogant fellow.
"So, do you think you can help us?" Asked Keiko.
Dimitre turned his icy gaze on her, and she shivered involuntarily. "I don't think I can be of much use to your cause, but my friends can." He said, piercing gaze still on her.
"Your friends? Where are they?"
"Well, Tain is around here somewhere, the girls, Cimmy, Timerie, and Nissa, are all up at the castle."
Keiko suddenly became more enthused. "The castle. That's where Yusuke is?" She asked.
Kurama glanced at her, and then at Hiei, who glanced at him. With Keiko distracted they could eye contact talk without getting in trouble. Both of them wondered though what had happened to make the Makai's two most feared demons scared of getting in to trouble with a human girl? Were it any other girl it would be considered pitiful, but Keiko wasn't like other girls so they decided that they had some justification there, and that boosted their dignity a little more.
"Yes, at least, last I heard." Answered Dimitre, pushing a rogue strand of black hair back behind his ear.
"Well, so can you take us there?" She asked.
The young demon thought about it for a moment, but then shook his head. "We'd have to go through the city, and I wouldn't be your best guide. If you want to get to the castle, we'll have to find Kane, he knows the city like the back of his hand."
Keiko sighed. "So how do we kind Kane?"
"Find Tain."
"Well then, how do we find Tain?"
Dimitre glanced around their surroundings before putting two fingers to his mouth and sending out a shrill whistle that echoed through out the misty gray area. He was quiet then, and folded his arms across his chest. Keiko blinked.
"Um . . . so what now?" She asked.
Dimitre glanced over at her and then back to whatever he found so interesting on the ground. "Now we wait. It won't be long."
Another few minutes passed. They all sat in silence. There were still many unanswered questions, but no one was in the mood to talk necessarily. After all, Yusuke was so close! Why did they have to wait for a guide? Hiei was fast enough to avoid any danger, or at least that's how it felt. It was safer to have guide, but the three companions were more than a little anxious. Keiko was beginning to get nervous. What did they want from her? What could she say to her ex-fiancé after seven years? God, she just wanted to go home. She couldn't believe that she missed a flight to the U.S. just to end up on a shitty ass mission like this!
"You called?" Came a foreign voice.
Keiko looked up rather surprised, and found a young man standing in front of her. He had short, sandy blonde hair with long bangs that hung in his face, although, they did so rather tastefully. He wore simple dark brown pants with brown boots and a loose fitting, lighter brown shirt with wide sleeves that went over his hands so that they only revealed his fingertips. He had a somewhat tan complexion, and bright sea green eyes that seemed to sparkle like sun kissed water. He smiled easily at them all.
"Took you long enough." Said Dimitre with a scowl. Then he turned addressed Keiko, Hiei, and Kurama. "This is Tain."
The one called Tain stepped forward and took Keiko's hand into his own, and kissed it, Keiko blushed, and Tain winked.
"What's your name?" He asked, standing back to his full height.
"Ah . . . Keiko." She answered, the blush still present. Tain nodded.
"It's a pleasure, and who are you two?" He asked turning his attention toward the silver youko and the fire youkai.
"I'm Kurama, and this is Hiei." Said the youko, knowing very well that his friend would probably not answer.
Tain's bright eyes widened. "Y- you guys are . . . seriously? I mean . . . you- you're . . ." He sputtered.
Dimitre scowled and gave his friend a good smack in the back of the head. Tain stumbled forward a bit, and then glared up at the darkly clad demon next to him.
"Baka! Spit it out, we don't have time for your stuttering!"
Tain shook his head from side to side. "Hiei and Kurama? As in the infamous thief Youko Kurama and the merciless assassin Hiei?"
Kurama and Hiei exchanged glances. Kurama shrugged.
"Um . . . sure." He answered, although he and Hiei had been out of that type of business for quite some time. Their reputations still roamed around the Makai though, and that was, if anything, a benefit. It kept bothersome youkai away at least.
Keiko smiled. She liked Tain. He was a sweet heart, as well as a charmer. When the look of uneasiness spread across his fine features, Keiko felt bad for him.
"Oh, don't mind them. They've been out of that business for a while now. As long as you aren't evil they're as sweet as pussy cats, and Kurama is twice as soft." She said.
Kurama's cool expression faltered. Keiko winked at him, and Hiei snickered. For this he received a glare from the youko. Tain's care free expression returned upon seeing the trio's antics.
"So, what can we do ya for?" He asked happily.
Keiko smiled. "We need to get to the castle."
The green-eyed youkai scratched the back of his head. "Um, well you'll need Kane for that, didn't Dim to tell you?"
Keiko nodded. "That's why . . ." and she looked at Dimitre who was standing off to the side. She grinned mischievously. " . . . Dim . . . called you."
The dark haired demon looked up abruptly, and then down. Keiko swore she saw a blush. This guy was almost as fun to tease as Hiei was! Tain giggled.
"Give me just a minute." Said Tain.
His sea green eyes began to glow, and suddenly his entire body was covered in that light, then he disappeared completely.
Keiko's eyes went wide. "Ah, where . . . did he go?" She asked, pointing to the spot where he once stood.
"Hn. Water sprite." Came Hiei's reply.
Keiko looked at him with questioning eyes.
"It appears Tain is a sort of water demon. Rather gitty creatures that live underneath, in, or near bodies of water. Most of the time they are friendly, but one should always be cautious, as they have a tendency to be very tricky should they want something from you."
Dimitre cut in immediately after Hiei's explanation.
"Tain isn't like that." He said defensively. Hiei eyed him dully. "Tain isn't like that at all. He's a water sprite, yes, but he was banned from his clan because he wasn't like them, because he was different. He didn't appreciate their rules, or the way that they used others to achieve their own selfish goals. Tain believes in honor, and he believes that loyalty, trustworthiness, and work are the ways to obtain one's goals. He's always willing to help if it's for a good cause, but he never asks anything in return." Continued the icy eyed demon.
Keiko smiled. Dimitre was the type who stood up for his friends, and she admired that.
"I see. He's very lucky to have a friend like you around." She said. Dimitre looked away and gently shook his head. "No, I'm lucky." He whispered. Tain was his best friend, always had been. He had been the first one to have ever shown him any sort of compassion or sympathy. Dimitre had been cast out of his own clan as a child as well, and so when they meant up, Tain held a great amount of empathy for him. At first, he'd been reluctant to associate with the water sprite, but Tain had been persistent, and soon they had developed a friendship. As time went on they met up with Kane and Nissa, twins who had escaped from slavery, and then Timerie, a lone wanderer, followed by Cimmy, a rogue elfin demon. They had all banded together, and formed a tight knot of friendship, and kinship as well.
"How'd he do that?" Asked Keiko then.
Dimitre looked up from his trance like state. "Do what?"
"You know. Get all luminescent and then disappear."
"Oh, that's just one of his powers. All water sprites can do it. Basically, they control the element of water, and can dematerialize into it, so long as there is another body of water that they can rematerialize into."
Keiko let her eyes scan the area. She could make out the tall, shadowy frames of random structures. Probably buildings, but the mist impaired her eyes sight rather effectively. What she could see was gray, barren, and tired looking. It reminded her of dying leaves. The entire place seemed like it could dry up and blow away. She couldn't imagine there being a body of water anywhere.
"Are there large bodies around here?" She asked, still scanning the area.
Dimitre shook his head. "Used to be, but not so much anymore." He answered sadly.
"I see. Then, how do you expect him to find a place to rematerialize?" Now she looked over her shoulder at him.
"He doesn't require large quantities. It could be a puddle, a well, anything with even the slightest bit of water."
"Wow, that's pretty handy." Keiko replied rather absent-mindedly.
"He's back." Said Kurama suddenly.
"What?" Keiko asked, but did not have time for clarification, as the glowing figure reappeared in front of them all.
Abruptly, the glow disappeared revealing the ever-smiling Tain.
"Find him?" asked Dimitre.
Tain gave a slight nod of his head. "Yup, he said he'd be here in few."
"Is he far off?"
"Nah, not really."
"Good."
Dimitre turned toward Kurama, Hiei, and Keiko.
"Just remember. The city is dangerous, so keep your guard up." He said rather matter of factly.
"Thank you for your concern, but I don't believe we'll have to much to worry about." Replied Kurama.
Suddenly, his silver ears pricked up, and twitched, his tail swished back and forth, almost in a nervous action.
"Someone is here." He said.
