Chapter nine:

Botan and Kasumi moved far away from the door as Ryushi came into the door followed by two men. An evil smile lit on his face as he looked at the two girls. He took several steps in Botan's direction.

"Stay away from me!" Botan yelled.

"Look, what we've caught," Ryushi said as he looked closely at Botan. "It looks like a blue-haired angel."

Botan summoned her oar and put it in front of her in defense. "I said stay away! I will use this on you if I have to."

Ryushi wasn't fazed by Botan's acts of self-defense, but was fairly amused by her attempt. His smile widened as he took a couple more steps closer to the deity.

"You are that girl that is often seen with that Kitsune and his friends," Ryushi said.

"Leave them alone!" Botan snapped.

A chuckle escaped Ryushi's lips as he easily grabbed a hold of Botan's oar and threw it away, making it disappear.

Botan sank to the ground, "What do you want with me?"

"Nothing, just stay out of the way," Ryushi replied.

"Then…" Botan said hesitantly, "can't you let me go?"

"No! Why in the devil's name would I do that?!" Ryushi retorted.

She scooted away quickly, "B-because, Y-you will be v-very sorry that you didn't."

Ryushi laughed aloud and managed a wicked smile. Botan's threats were nothing; she was just scared and therefore made up an excuse. Empty threats only amused Ryushi and made him eager to just get the job done, he wanted both girls dead now; it was obvious that Botan had a connection with Kurama, a fairly strong one at that.

Ryushi took a few steps closer to Botan, she yelped and moved father away. Kasumi smiled watching this, noticing that Ryushi had left the door opened, but the two guards posed as a potential threat. Slowly Kasumi moved to the side, in hopes that they would not notice her movements and hit one of the guards at the base of his head, knocking him unconscious.

"Hey you, stop!" the other guard shouted as Kasumi fled quickly.

Ryushi turned around to find that Kasumi left. He picked up his radio that hung leisurely at his side and commanded that Kasumi was to be found immediately. He grabbed Botan roughly by her wrist and dragged her along with him.

The bus stopped in the richer part of Tokyo. That was Kurama's que that they had reached their destination. The traffic had delayed them for about an hour, but they had made it.

With a yawn Kuwabara got off the bus and looked at his watch, "It's 9:00 already?!"

"We were stuck in traffic for an hour or so," Yusuke replied.

"Yes, now, if my map is correct, the mansion is that way," Kurama said pointing to the right.

The other two nodded and they started off in the direction that Kurama had pointed out. They were amazed at all the mansions they saw, but Kurama insisted that Ryushi's mansion was not for at least another mile or so. Kuwabara kept muttering on first they had to take a bus to hike for a mile or two in the bitter cold.

"Stop complaining Kuwabara, at least the blizzard stopped," Yusuke growled.

"Yeah, only to get snow in your shoes and freeze your toes off," Kuwabara muttered.

"We should be there in fifteen to twenty minutes if we are lucky," Kurama said.

The group continued to march on, their faces showed the exhaustion of the progressing day. They did not wish to stop for any reason and hoped to get to the mansion. The snow glistened with the moon's light; it must have been a foot deep, making it hard to walk in.

Botan and Kasumi ran as fast as they could while being chased by five men, including Ryushi. They just kept going until they reached a large room. There, fifteen other men showed up and surrounded them.

"Whoops, maybe I should have made that turn," Kasumi said.

"What now?" Botan asked.

Kasumi shrugged, "We could always fight them."

"What? Come on, now, twenty to two, how could we win?" Botan panicked.

"Dumb luck," Kasumi replied, "but we could always use that oar of yours and fly away."

Botan let out a groan as she pretty much face faulted. Now what…they were trapped and surrounded by nineteen expressionless faces and Ryushi, what could they do?

There was a beeping sound and Ryushi picked up a walkie-talkie. He walked out of the room and talked there. Within a couple of minutes he came back with a smug expression.

"We've got him," Ryushi sneered. "He should be here any minute, and then it will all begin."

"What are you up to?" Botan asked.

"It is nothing important to you," he replied.

"You're going to hurt him! I won't let you!" Botan shouted. "If you touch any of those boys…I will personally see to your death."

An evil grin appeared on Ryushi's face, "Ooh, so fighting, especially coming from you."

"I will see to it as well," Kasumi stated.

Ryushi laughed evilly. He looked at the girls' firm expressions with a nasty grin. He could always have his fun and torture Kurama more by killing both girls slowly. What a delight that would be for him, the thought of Kurama's face as the girls died. It seemed there was no end to Ryushi's cruelty.

"Go greet our guests," Ryushi said to one of his henchmen.

The man bowed and left, walking to the main entrance.

"Ah, here we are," Kurama said.

"Damn, these rich people sure know how to live," Yusuke remarked.

"Yeah, their money's endless, man, I wish I had that money," Kuwabara laughed.

They walked up to the gates. Kurama turned to a tree behind him upon the feeling that someone was watching them. From the tree a figure jumped down to the ground with great speed.

"I thought you said that humans were untrustworthy," Kurama said.

Hiei snorted, "That's why I came."

The gate opened automatically. The Tentei looked at each other then proceeded to walk to the mansion. Kuwabara looked around in amazement.

"Oh, wow, I bet they have everything here," he gawked.

"We are not here for fun, Kuwabara," Kurama reminded him.

The front pathway of the house was alone amazing. It was almost like a maze of cars with a large fountain in the center of the driveway. A straight line wouldn't cut it here; they turned at almost every other car, trying to seek the entrance, the snow only made it worse. Hiei looked at his friend, a look of pity etched softly in his face. It never amazed him that Kurama could hide his worry or fear, but in a sense, it was not a good trait. Hell, who was he to think this stuff? Hiei always kept things to himself. There were things no one knew, no one at all except him.

The group of four reached the door to be greeted by a man in suit. The man was expressionless and bowed briskly at the Tentei. He led them into the room where Ryushi was with Kasumi and Botan. The girls stood in the middle of the room, both appeared exhausted.

"Kurama!" Kasumi yelled.

"Yusuke! Kurama" Botan shouted and made an effort to run to them.

"Hold it right there," one of Ryushi's henchmen said and garbed Botan's wrist roughly making her cry out.

"That is enough!" Kurama snapped. "If it is me you after, then here I am, so leave them out of it."

Ryushi laughed, "Very courageous of you Kitsune, however the little angel has nothing to do with this."

At Ryushi's snap, the henchman walked forward, still having a tight hold on Botan's wrist. He walked up to Kurama and threw Botan into his arms roughly. Kurama caught her and glared at the henchman then looked to Botan with concerned eyes.

"Are you alright?" he asked her.

Botan nodded weakly and pulled away from Kurama. She had a bad feeling about this; something bad was about to happen. Kurama walked toward Ryushi, who took out a gun.

"Kurama stop!" Botan cried.

Ryushi shot the gun, leaving a bullet hole in the draping sleeve of Botan's kimono. "Quiet woman! Ryushi snarled. "You stay out of this before you die too."

Kasumi gulped, but said nothing. She hated Ryushi, but he scared her and to think how strong she was before. This was leaving a scar on her heart and in her mind. She didn't know if she could trust people, except her family, right away.

"Ryo, Tomo, take our little Kitsune here to her proper viewing seat," Ryushi said.

Two henchmen came and took Kasumi by her arms. They dragged her away towards the door. Kurama glared at the two men dragging Kasumi, he started to walk in her direction, only to have five henchmen stand in his way. Kurama gritted his teeth and watched as Kasumi was taken out the door and to some unknown location.

"Ryushi, you better not touch that girl," Kurama warned.

Ryushi just grinned evilly at Kurama, "Why would I do that?"

"You bastard!" Yusuke shouted.

"Believe me, the show will start soon enough," Ryushi said.

~*~*~

a/n: So how is it?

Yusuke: Sucks.

Botan: I like it.

Yukina: I like it too.

Yusuke: Crap, out numbered.

Botan: I know most of you want Kurama to be with Kasumi, but I still haven't decided. Ne, Dana-chan you never said who you wanted Kurama to be with. Meanie!! Nah, j/k.

Oh! Chapter Ten will be a long wait, because I have exams and well, I am leaving for Vegas soon.