Chapter eight:

Time couldn't go slower for Karama and the others; they still had a half hour to go before they were supposed to reach their destination. Karama let out an angry sigh and closed his eyes.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, but due to a traffic accident on the road, we will be delayed," an announcer on the bus, said.

"Crap!" Yusuke muttered.

"You think we'll make it on time?" Kuwabara asked stupidly.

"I doubt it! Damn people, they don't know how to friggen' drive!" Yusuke growled.

Kurama said nothing; he did not wish to stir up more of an argument by getting involved. It was true that he was a little aggravated with the fact that there was a delay, but there was nothing that he could do about it. It figures that everything goes wrong for them every time, but then again, what could they do about it? The answer was nothing.

In Reikai everything was not going well either. Botan was just summoned to Koenma's office for an important meeting. She wondered how important it was, not very important if Yusuke and the others were already on a case, unless some new evil had popped up out of nowhere.

"I'm here, Koenma," Botan said.

She did not look well. Her face was paler then usual and her hair was in a mess. It looked as if she had rushed from a sound sleep to meet Koenma. A fellow ferrygirl stood by Botan's side.

"Botan what is wrong today?" Koenma asked taking a good look at Botan.

"I was sleeping, sir…I know I shouldn't have been sleeping," she said fairly rushed, "I'm sorry."

Koenma shook his head. Botan was fairly air-headed and usually caused some troubles, but she did always get her job done. That is why Koenma always depended on Botan.

"Never mind that! I need you to find Yusuke!" Koenma stated.

"Why…sir?" she asked.

"Because! Well, because…I just need to talk to him in person," the Reikai prince replied.

"What?! You're serious sir, you just want to talk to him? But, he is on a case at the moment," Botan stated.

"I don't give a hissy-fit if he is on a case, I need you to get Yusuke now!" Koenma snapped.

Botan nodded, "Yes sir…I'll bring him right to you as soon as I can."

With that Botan bowed and left to get Yusuke. She summoned her oar and road off to Ningenkai. Botan sighed, she had never seen Koenma so impatient in her time working in Reikai…no she has, Koenma was always impatient and very selfish.

Kasumi laid asleep in her chamber. As she slept tears rolled down her face and onto the floor. Her brown hair in a mess and her dress had rips along the bottom. For the sleeping girl time flowed like sand between her fingers. She wished she could sleep all day and all night, but that was not an option for her.

Suddenly there was a thud, like someone had dropped a bowling ball on the roof above her. The sound had caused Kasumi to be startled and wake up. And like a child she curled herself into a ball and looked upwards to see if there was anything threatening her. The sound came again, this time being louder then the last. Kasumi jumped from the noise and ran far from the center of the room. She bit her lip to keep herself from crying out.

A low growl escaped Kasumi's throat as she glared at the ceiling, but the sound did not come again. She turned around and peered out of the small window, hoping to find something out there, but there was nothing, but the sky and a few trees. The wind was starting to pick up and the window started to rattle as the wind used its forceful hands on the glass. The snow had come again, this time more fierce then last time blowing and swirling in an angry pattern. The wind howled loudly as if a wolf's cry was being sounded.

Botan rushed on her oar. Her hair blowing into her face as she flew above the snow clouds in search of Yusuke. She let out a sigh as she tried to figure out where to check first. Possibly they had already reached their destination.

"Bingo!" Botan said happily as she rushed off to the mansion.

She was glad that Yusuke gave her the address that was on the paper. A smile spread across her face as she flew in the cold air, sure she was cold, but she was happy to get out of Reikai for a while. Koenma had disturbed her from a very peaceful and a quite good dream.

'Why do bad guys make everything so obvious?' she thought with a slight giggle.

As she reached the mansion, she could not help but to wonder why an organization would put such a nice house to waste. Botan flew down fast hoping to avoid the great winds that blew, but it was no use, the wind blew her right off her course and into another direction. She tried desperately to go back in the right direction, but the wind was being stubborn and kept pushing her in the same direction.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Botan was tossed to the ground by a mighty wind.

Kasumi's eyes opened wide as she saw a girl with sky blue hair fall from the sky. Slowly she backed up from the window and ran to the door. Without thinking she grabbed the doorknob. It felt like hundreds of knives cutting into her hand, each wanting to slice a piece of her. Quickly she let go of the doorknob and sank to the ground cradling her wounded hand.

Within minutes the door opened and the girl with the blue hair was thrown in the room. She was knocked unconscious with light bruises upon her face and hands. Kasumi scrambled over to the mysterious girl and shook her awake.

"Kurama…Yusuke…is that you?" she asked weakly.

"'Kurama'?" Kasumi asked. "Do you know him?"

Botan blinked a couple of times; now that she was fully awake she nodded in response.

"How do you know him?" Kasumi asked, now more curious.

"I work with him and three other guys as the assistant to the Spirit Detective," Botan replied. "I'm Botan by the way."

"Kasumi," Kasumi stated.

Botan looked shocked, but a small smile appeared on her face. She took out her communication mirror.

"Yusuke, Botan here, I found her. She's fine, but I got myself into a little trouble…hehehe," she said.

Botan let out a small gasp as Kurama came onto the screen, he seemed fairly concerned.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

Botan nodded, "I'm fine, just a couple of cuts…that's all."

"You do not look well," Kurama stated.

"Just tired, Koenma woke up to deliver a message to Yusuke," Botan replied. "He needs to meet Yusuke, but he wouldn't tell me why."

"Just stay there, we will be there in a little bit," Kurama said.

Botan let out a nervous giggle, "I can't go anywhere they took me as a prisoner, but I can't talk now. Bye."

With that Botan closed the mirror and put it away. She yawned and sat near Kasumi. Botan gave her a smile that said that help was on its way and just to hold tight until then.

"Little fox, little fox, come and play," a voice sang. "The farmer's not here so it will all be ok. His wife has gone to sleep and the snow is friendly. Little fox, little fox, come out and play this game."

At the close of the child-like song, the door opened slowly. Botan and Kasumi let out a gasp.

Kurama gave the communication mirror back to Yusuke. Something in his face said that something bad has occurred. Yusuke looked at his friend sadly and looked down.

"She didn't look well," Yusuke said softly.

"I know, she is tougher then she looks," Kurama replied. "Koenma is blind."

"Why wha'd he do?" Kuwabara asked.

"Botan is not well, she won't admit it, but she looks sick. Koenma is blind to her pain and sends her on missions," the Kitsune said.

Kuwabara let out a small "oh" and remained silent as he looked out of the window at the slow-moving traffic. There was a long silence between the three. Each had expressions of sadness and lost hope.

"We'll rescue her," Yusuke said breaking the silence. "That is the least we can do for her."

Kurama did not reply, but looked down at his hands. This was going too far, Ryushi had his fun and now it was time for pay-back. At this point, Kurama didn't care whether Ryushi was killed or just put into eternal torture. The easiest way to put this down was to kill Ryushi, but that wouldn't justify all the lives that were made bitter or taken away.

"Cheer up, Kurama we'll save 'em," Kuwabara said giving Kurama a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

All Kurama could do was give a shallow nod and suppress a smile. Yusuke and Kuwabara were doing all they could. They did not like the fact that Ryushi had taken Botan captive anymore then Kurama did. For some reason Kurama knew that Hiei would sneer and say, "Just great, another person to rescue."

"What is our plan now?" Kurama asked.

"They must know we're coming…we can giver into their demands," Yusuke replied.

"Their demands are for my death," Kurama stated.

"I see. Crap, that leaves us with no option," Yusuke said, "Well it just means that we have to fight!"

Kurama sighed, "Yes, they do like to leave us with no options."

~*~*~

a/n: Ok, so how is it? A nice twist, heh? :::Gets smaked by Yusuke:::

Yusuke: What's the big idea!

Botan: Why I think it was a great idea!

Yusuke: It sucks!

Botan: Grr....I need an opinion, who should Kurama choose Botan or Kasumi? I personally think Botan, but I want your opinion.

((Ok, I've lost it.....hehe, Dana, I am insane...and a terrible author))