Chapter six:

Kurama headed back home from Yusuke's house. His only thought was hoping that Kasumi was safe and that Ryushi hadn't gone back on his word. Kurama technically hand another whole day until he had to save her. But how could he ignore her pleas for help?

He got into his house through the window he opened earlier and sat in thought thinking of an excuse to tell his mother.

"Suichi! Dinner's ready!" Shiori said.

"Ok, I'll be out in a minute," Kurama replied.

Dinner at the Minamino residence was quieter than normal. Shiori didn't bring up Kasumi that night or anything that might upset her son. It had occurred to her that her Suichi was very close with the young girl and that he was very upset with the matter.

"Mother, I am going to a friend's house tonight," Kurama said quietly.

Shiori nodded. "Suichi, which friend are you staying with?" she asked.

"Yusuke's house…I will call you when I get there," he replied and walked out of the door with a backpack on one shoulder.

It was now nearly 6:00 and Kurama knew he had to be at the bus station. Time was definitely not on his side tonight and that it wasn't going to be favorable if he missed the bus.
The door opened and Ryushi's nephew poked his head out of the door. He looked around then walked out dragging Kasumi along by her wrist. Together they walked lightly, careful not to step on any loose boards that would creak. Kasumi would throw him a worried glance every so often; she didn't fully trust this man. He was strange to her, but he did seem nice…even though he was a bit bossy.

"Hey, don't you worry, you'll be safe and in that Kitsune's arms before you know it," he said to her.

Kasumi only nodded and followed his orders. She couldn't do anything at this point; she was weak, so much for being great and powerful. A cold fear crept up her back and tingled her spine. Kasumi shook her head, she was just imagining that something bad was about to happen. These bad feelings weren't necessarily correct, maybe she was paranoid, yes, that was it, she was paranoid because what had happened in the past few days.

"So, how do we get out of here?" she asked.

"Don't worry," he said with a smile, "I know my way around and we will get out of here in no time!"

He definitely had a teenage air to him; something about him seemed youthful although he looked in his twenties. He wasn't old, but he was taking youthful risks, that one shouldn't take.

"But, what if we are caught?" Kasumi said now starting to panic.

"Then…we'll die," he replied simply, almost cockily.

Kasumi huffed slightly and gave herself a mental smack as if telling her she shouldn't have listened to him. The man had a very flexible personality, almost too flexible that it screamed for trouble to start. Then she suspected that he was looking for a reward for saving her, but she would have preferred to wait for Kurama. If she had done that then there was the possibility of Kurama being killed before he even arrived at the mansion.

'No!' she snapped at herself. 'Don't think that! Kurama will make it…or I'll get back before he comes.'

Kasumi stopped walking and paled, "I don't think we should go this way…"

"Why not?" he demanded.

"Well…I got a bad vibe from that direction," Kasumi whispered.

"Are you kidding me?" the man asked.

"No, why would I? Seriously, you know nothing about a Kitsune, do you?" she replied, gaining some of her confidence back.

Kasumi stiffened as she heard footsteps come closer.
It was now 6:20 and Kurama broke into a run. The bus station was another ten minutes away walking distance, he had hoped by running that he would cut the time in half. He was a mess within, with the mixed feelings of guilt and anger flooding him, Kurama was surprised that he had remained calm and hadn't exploded into a fit of rage.

Just as he thought, five minutes later he arrived at the bus station, but to find that Yusuke and Kuwabara were not there. It didn't surprise him that they weren't there…this was Yusuke Urameshi we were talking about and Kazuma Kuwabara, why would they bother being on time? Kurama sighed and waited patently for Yusuke and Kuwabara to show up.

"What fools," a voice said from behind Kurama. "You can never trust humans, Kurama."

"Hiei, what are you doing here?" Kurama asked.

"Nothing…just was walking by," the Koorime replied with a snort. "I have seen the mansion on the paper…they are heavily guarded."

"They know I am coming…how convenient," Kurama said, "I just hope they haven't done anything to her."

Hiei scowled at Kurama and walked away. He didn't like how Kurama was acting or how this girl had enchanted him. This was Kurama's problem not his. It was always better not to get involved, like Yusuke and Kuwabara did, but sit on the side and lend a little information.

It was nearly 6:30 when Yusuke and Kuwabara arrived at the bus station. Kurama hardly said anything, but they weren't late, for once. He looked as if it was an improvement, but a very minor one.

"Good, you're here," Kurama said after a minute.

Yusuke nodded as he wiped some sweat from his forehead. Kuwabara continued to breathe heavily and couched down to the ground waiting for his breath to come back to him.

"Stop being stupid, Kuwabara. My house was only fifteen minutes away from here!" Yusuke said.

Kurama said nothing as the bus pulled up to the station. It was just luck that Yusuke and Kuwabara showed up before the bus has actually came. Yusuke and the others boarded the bus and hoped that they could make it in time.
Kasumi started to take a few steps back as Ryushi moved closer to her. A wicked grin was fixed upon his oblong face, making Kasumi shudder. Ryushi started to walk faster moving Kasumi into a corner.

"Ah, it's the little viper," he chuckled evilly, "but the poor thing has gotten her fangs ripped out."

"Stay away from me!" Kasumi shouted. "Away!"

As Ryushi approached her she shut her eyes. She could feel his hot breath on her skin. Everything around her couldn't be more frightening then Ryushi. A bead of sweat rolled down her paling skin, her breath quickened as fear crept closer to her heart.

'So,' Kasumi thought bitterly, 'this is how my life's going to end…what a pathetic way to die, to a human no less.'

Kasumi bit her lip and desperately looked for away out of her situation. She pressed her back to the wall, bracing herself, but without a weapon she was pretty much defenseless and vulnerable. Suddenly she heard Ryushi yell out in pain. Kasumi opened one eye to take a peak and saw him, Ryushi's nephew, holding Ryushi in a choke hold.

"Shin, you wouldn't hurt your own flesh and blood would you?" Ryushi asked meekly.

The man, Shin, narrowed his eyes. "All you have done is hurt others and got away with murder, not anymore! I will bring you to justice."

Ryushi let out a whimper and went limp. Kasumi noted that it had to be a trick, because Ryushi was able to breathe and he couldn't have passed out that easily. Shin threw him aside and started to walk away, there was an obvious anger in his eyes and in his posture, and something had told Kasumi that she shouldn't say anything to make him mad.

"Hey, Kitsune-girl, come!" Shin commanded.

Kasumi nodded, but she didn't take her eyes off Ryushi. She knew that he was only playing a trick and that as soon as they were on their way out, Ryushi would attack them. She then cased a quick glance over at Shin; he had stopped walking and had turned around to face Kasumi.

"Kitsune-girl, I said come!" he shouted.

"Yes, but…do you really think he's down?" Kasumi asked.

"No, but frankly I do not care, he could lie on the floor all day if he pleased," Shin replied. "Now, come before I come and get you."

This time Kasumi obeyed and walked over to Shin. They started to walk down the hall and towards the exit, when Ryushi got back up, a wicked smile spread across his lips. He held a gun out pointed at Shin and he didn't appear to be afraid to use it.

"You really should have listened to the girl, Shin. She could have spared your life," Ryushi sneered.

Shin smiled wryly, "Do you honestly think I'd be that easy to catch, Uncle, or have you forgotten?"

Shin moved swiftly holding Kasumi in front of him as a shield. The expression of panic was written upon her face.

"What are you doing?!" she asked.

Shin didn't reply.

Ryushi took a few steps closer and said, "I don't care if the girl lives or dies, I would kill her now and you know it. What is the point of saving her if you will get her killed?"

Shin just grinned and took out his gun. "What is the point of having a captive if you would kill her before schedule?"

Both men laughed now, filling the hallway with their eerie presence. Kasumi thought they were losing it, or had already known the outcome of this duel. Either way one of them would lose either it was the alpha wolf or his beta, one of them would die today.

~*~*~
a/n: Hello everyone! I know it has been awhile! But Chapter six is here and chapter seven is on its way! We have a cliff hanger isn't that exciting! I bet you are wondering what will happen next! Will Shin die or will Ryushi?
Oh, and thank you to all you who summited names for Shin's character, but the offical name was given to me by a Japanese girl named Rie, who I met on a trip.