It's ending soon, people...two or three more chapters. ^^ But I have more than 50 reviews! YAY! I feel so loved. Welcome back to kimpfn...I think she was in Vegas...and I'm glad to recommend her fic, Miss Independent. It's great. But. I will be gone from July 27 to August...well, I should be back on the 2nd. I'm not sure if they have computers where I'm going, so I may pop up to review...but no new chapters, sadly. So here's one more before I go! Oh...and for DAY-san's question...Hiei's super fast...and I have authoress powers...so...they...ummm... got there really fast. Except Kia and Kelsey got there quicker. When we last left off, the girls had finally reached Netami's castle...and Kia established that evil people do indeed have sea monkeys. Rock on. Now, they've come face to Shishiwakamaru...Kelsey and I co-wrote the first part over MSN Messenger. Welcome back, Kelsey!

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"I'm sure." Kelsey clenched her teeth. "And what half-assed puppet boy's gonna tell me off?"

Suzuki and Kia stared at the two. Yusuke was still unconscious. Muffled protests suddenly reached the girl's ears. "Kindly remove your hands...I cannot allow you to..." Kurama? The guards were bringing him in to be brainwashed! Desperately, she glanced at Kelsey. "The guards are coming!" she hissed urgently.

The blue-haired youkai took a step towards Kelsey. "I thought I TOLD you to keep your comments to yourself!" He lunged at her.

"Maksaka." (which Kelsey informs me is "never" in some obscure language.) Kelsey scowled, quickly drawing her sword to block Shishi. The impact shook her arm so badly she thought that the sword would drop out of her hands. Adjusting her grip, she backed away from him. "Don't be stupid, Shishi."

"It is YOU who is idiotic, Warrior," Shishiwakamaru calmly replied, thrusting at her again. Kia had both hands to her mouth, utterly horrified. What could she...

"Kia." Startled, she looked at Suzuki. "Kelsey's got him distracted. Go find Netami. I don't believe there's any other way to free Shishiwakamaru...and if she's done the same to Jin..."

"But I can't just leave her!" Kia protested.

"Of course you can, Kia." Kelsey grated. "Your legs work, don't they? Just lift one foot up and put it in front of the other. We call it walking. It enables you to leave people, namely me." She kept her sword in a defensive position, looking around for something that might help.

Kia rolled her eyes. "Can you EVER be serious?" She looked over at Suzuki. "If you get brainwashed, I'll be very mad at you," she informed him, turning to leave, and then hesitating. "Kelsey, are you sure...?" Shishiwakamaru's eyes flicked to her and he smirked. "Stay if you will. You're next."

"Yes. Yes I'm sure." Kelsey didn't take her eyes off Kia, using Shishi's moment of lowered focus to readjust her stance, loosening the muscles in her shoulders. "I suppose you COULD stay, to avenge me after I die." She said cheerily. "Does that sound good?"

"You're definitely unique," the girl grumbled, and left at a run. The samurai debated running after her, but then turned to Kelsey, and sneered. "Come," he stated simply, and swung his blade at her head.

"Well." Kelsey blinked. "Hello, Shishi."

His sword met hers with a clink, and the youkai stepped back. "Address me properly. Shishiwakamaru. Even a foolish ningen girl like you should easily grasp that."

"I have to." She backed up. "You won't take it personally if I don't kill you? I mean...I know this is supposed to be part of Netami's evil plot..." Kelsey sighed. "...But I'm just not getting the beat."

The samurai blinked. "Actually, it makes it easier for me to slaughter you if you don't resist." He followed her, eyes narrowed and blank.

"Who said I wasn't resisting?" Kelsey asked calmly. "I just said I wasn't going to kill you." She blocked another strike, and then rapidly parried as he came at her again with several quick thrusts, trying to find an opening.

Suzuki watched this all with wide eyes, as Shishiwakamaru stopped briefly.

"Who taught you your skills, ningen girl?" He panted.

Kelsey blinked at him. "You did. Well, you taught me and Kia-"

"Kia and ME," Suzuki corrected dryly. Kelsey grimaced. "Kia and ME," she repeated obediently, "how to fence. So did Hiei."

You lie," the Samurai snarled. "I have served Her for all of my life."

The girl raised an eyebrow. "Hoo boy...she really DID sock it to you, didn't she?"

"I don't know what you mean," he said stiffly, as he lunged at her. Kelsey was a little slow to block and hissed sharply as the blade slashed her right arm. "Just a gash..." she muttered, staring into the clouded eyes of the youkai. Obviously, she would have to try something else...

Back to Kia...

The girl ran down the dank corridor, trying to get her eyes to adjust to this awful blackness. Hushed whispers and a muffled grunt of pain alerted her and she quickly ducked into a crevice in the wall, flattening herself against it and trying not to breathe too loudly.

"Control me all you like...but they're smart enough to stay away from you..."

Kurama! Kia almost ran forward to greet him, but he wasn't alone.

"Aw, shaddup Fox...ye know they'll come...and ye and yer friends'll be there to greet 'em."

There was the sound of something being kicked, and another low cry. "Come on now."

It took all of her self-control not to run after them and beat up on the guards. They were going to control Kurama too...

*But Kelsey is there.* She reminded herself. *She might be able to do something.* Or, then again, Kelsey against Shishiwakamaru, two guards, AND Kurama...not to mention Suzuki and Yusuke.

"Inari, guide me..." she muttered under her breath, invoking one of Kurama's favorite Japanese deities. She ran on. Something was nudging her subconscious...very faintly. Then it hit her. This was the same as her dream! Running down the corridor...and, at the very end, she saw a glimmer of violet light...

Kia didn't hesitate. She plunged into the light and was temporarily blinded for a moment. She blinked and her vision was restored.

She stood on a black marble floor. Amethysts were hung from the ceiling, each purple crystal a different length. The room was empty- except for a tiny looking mirror, which was suspended above an uncomfortable-looking black throne. Before the throne was a small stool, on which sat a glowing ball of light, constantly shifting from green, to purple, to black. On the throne sat a woman.

"Well, well. Only one. Tell me Healer, did your little friend already get killed?" Her voice was low and sultry, and long, dark lashes framed cold violet eyes. Unlike Z's, they were narrowed with suspicion and loathing. Her black hair, which trailed down past her ankles, was in one long braid, intertwined with amethysts and sapphires. She was dressed in a slinky, low-cut black evening gown that sparkled with sequins, with a golden pendant in the shape of an eagle around her neck. She was beautiful. Kia hated her on the spot.

"Don't underestimate her!" She retorted, glaring at Netami.

"Ah." The enchantress chuckled. "You took awhile. I was afraid Yuichi hadn't done his job."

"So..." Kia blinked. "He WAS working for you!"

"Brilliant, isn't it? And you weren't in Ningenkai to protect your friends..." Netami smirked. "I am truly evil, my dear..."

"You broke rule twenty-three in the book," the girl informed her. "SHAME on you!"

The other shrugged. It traveled down her entire body in sections, reminding Kia of a snake. "Well, aside from that...I thought you'd enjoy my little pets. And here! Meet my newest pet!" She gestured, and someone walked out from behind the throne.

Jin.

For a moment, Kia stood there, just staring at the Wind Master. Like Shishiwakamaru, his eyes were unfocused. And devoid of any emotion. No feeling, no warmth. Nothing. He stared down at her, a mocking smile on his lips. This wasn't her cheerful friend anymore...this was a puppet. Manipulated by Netami.

"Jin..." Netami rose languidly from her horrid throne. "She will be your opponent. Play with her as long as you wish. And then kill her."

The redheaded youkai stepped forward. Kia stepped back.

"It shall be done, Mistress." Even his voice was dull. "Fight me, Healer." His wind started to form around him.

"I don't want to fight you!" the girl protested, taking another step back. Too late. A wall of wind slammed into her, throwing her into the air, and then to the harsh ground with a painful smack. Winded (no pun intended), Kia rolled to her side, wheezing. She slowly sat up, only to scramble to her feet and run, in order to avoid a fierce windy punch. She'd seen this attack in action before...and it looked like it hurt.

"Snap out of it!" She yelled, frustrated. "I'm your friend, Jin!"

"No use." Netami giggled, a high-pitched sound with the exact range of a whistle. Kia winced. "There's no getting through to him." She tossed a scabbard to Jin, and the Wind Master pulled out a nasty-looking broadsword. He advanced on his former companion with amazing speed.

*Great...I don't think I have a choice. At least I can defend myself!*

Jin paused when Kia started to glow icy-blue. Then he ran forward again-only to be stopped by a wall of wind. He frowned slightly, summoning his own power. Wind clashed against wind, with both wielders struggling to maintain their grips on it. Kia gritted her teeth as his power battered her barrier. He was a Wind Master...while she was only his student. Jin finally broke through, and Kia was knocked off her feet again.

*I'm getting tired of this...* She thought grimly, as she got to her feet once more, turning her head slightly to spit out some blood. The coppery taste remained. A slight discoloration in her senses warned her too late. The broadsword scored, slashing her across her left side. Kia screamed, immediately clamping her hands over the wound to staunch the bleeding wound. A part of her hated herself for screaming like a wimp. *You baby! Stop whimpering, you're not gonna die!* Another part secretly wished that she could just throttle Jin, friend or not. *Okay...he attacked me. I don't want to hurt him, but if he tries to kill me again, I'm going to go psycho-bitch on him.* The last part, and the wisest, told her to keep her guard up. *You can do this...don't let Netami get to you...there's always a cure, an antidote, a counter-curse! Find it!* She'd find a way to snap the Wind Master out of it...or die trying.

"Okay, Jin..." she addressed the blank-faced youkai. "Try and get me." *Kia, you have truly lost it...*

At Suzuki's house...

Both Hiei and Touya were asleep. Mikage sat wearily in Kurama's chair, holding Puu. Z was still fuming. "Let 'em come, I'll kill 'em all..."

"I wonder if Kelsey and Kia got to Netami's okay," the fire youkai said thoughtfully, looking worried. "I mean, if the guys couldn't withstand her..."

"Well, she DOES control them," Z reminded her. "Don't worry about it, they'll be fine." Suddenly, her violet eyes brightened. "Let's worry about us now!" She got into a fighting stance, just as the front door exploded, with splinters flying everywhere.

Mikage winced. "Suzuki loved that door." She glanced up, as about seven tall youkai entered, wielding swords and looking particularly nasty. "Oh, goody. Aren't you supposed to be dealing with the other girls?"

"Netami-sama will deal with them," a dark-haired man wearing glasses said quietly, stepping forward. "I am Yuichi. Turn over Touya and Hiei to us, or suffer the consequences."

Z snorted. "How long have you been rehearsing THAT one?"

"Oh, shut up," he retorted, and snapped his fingers. The youkai charged at the two. Z leapt into the air and hurled something unseen at two of them. With startled yelps, they exploded, showering blood and bits of their bodies all over the room.

"Ick..." Mikage shuddered. "Z, can't you make that a LITTLE bit cleaner?"

The hanyou shrugged. "I'm sorry, I'm out of Lysol." She then proceeded to randomly assault two more youkai. Mikage, turning her head to flame an approaching attacker, heard the yelps and pleas of mercy of the half-demon's victims. The girl grinned and pulled out a pair of sai, wicked-looking trident things, and began to slash and stab the youkai. ((It's a little hard to explain sai...^^())) Once she tired of the bloodshed, she simply flipped the blades and knocked them out that way.

Ten minutes later, Yuichi was the only one standing. The other seven youkai were either dead or would be in remission for a VERY long time. Mikage and Z had several cuts and scrapes, but were otherwise unharmed.

"You take him," Mikage told the hanyou, as she settled back in the chair, looking at herself with disgust. "Blood is so hard to remove..."

Z grinned cheerfully and faced the man squarely. Her eyes closed and she began to glow a fiery black. Yuichi took a step back, then ran for it. The hanyou's massive darkness wave flowed from her and over the man, stifling his screams. When the darkness faded, there was nothing left of Ashita's former assistant. Not even a pile of ashes.

"Well," Z remarked, stepping back and rubbing her hands briskly on her clothes. "Looks like it's time to clean house."

Back to Netami's castle...

The guards soon entered the control chamber...imagine their surprise to see Kelsey and Shishiwakamaru, swords locked and still battling fiercely. Both seemed tired, but neither one gave up. Kelsey didn't even appear to see the guards, or Kurama, who was led to a gurney and strapped on, still struggling. The girl DID hear the Youko's yell when the taller of the two guards placed his hand on Kurama's forehead and glowed black. *A channeler for Netami's power...* Kelsey realized. She had to move fast. She blocked the Samurai's strike at her ribs, and quickly ran over to the guard, smacking him with the hilt on his head. With a groan, he slumped over, and Kurama stopped glowing. He appeared to be unconscious...but then, much to Kelsey's horror, he opened his eyes and sat up. Then he pulled a rose from his hair, flicked it into his trademark Rose Whip and rushed at her.

Kelsey leapt back, almost colliding with Shishiwakamaru. "Shimatta!!" She yelled angrily, ducking his swing, and bringing her sword to a guard position. But Kurama's words almost made her drop it.

"Gomen, Kelsey, I can't control it!"

"Uh...nani?" The girl stared at him in shock. "You're aware of it??"

"Of course I am...for some reason, when you interrupted the guard, Netami didn't have a chance to fully control me...only my body! Oh...jump to the left."

Kelsey obeyed, and just narrowly avoided getting struck by the whip. "This is weird..."

And back to Jin and Kia...

The battle raged on. Kia made a valiant attempt not to harm the Wind Master, only using her wind to shield herself from the brunt of his attack. She couldn't bring herself to hurt her friend. Of course, Jin had no such obligation and kept coming, a grim-faced puppet of death. Finally, Jin ran her up against the wall. The girl was too tired to call up the winds, but she had to do something as the sword slashed for her...so she did. She grabbed the tip of the sword and pushed it away from her, wincing as the sharp steel cut her hands. Jin stumbled, losing momentum, and Kia shot past him. *I need help...*

*OOC*

Heh...this is getting good. Poor Kia...if she doesn't do something fast, she's gonna be dead. In the lair of an evil person who doesn't even abide by evil rules, no less. Oh, the horror... Not to mention Kelsey's little problem! And Kurama...he's trying to kill her, and yet warn her at the same time. How odd. Stay tuned! This story will end in approximately two chapters. ^^ Please review! I've got a couple votes for a sequel...hmm...

Next chapter...

* Kia asks for help...and receives it in an unusual package...

* Kelsey can free Shishiwakamaru! But when she finds out what she has to do, will she have the courage to do it?

* Two VERY angry Mirror Holders and an evil sorceress...who will triumph?

* Several sacrifices will be made...but are they worth it?