Since all good stories have an antagonist, Ch. 3 introduces the baddies, and it fills in some more holes in this Swiss cheese of a story. Like they say on the packs of Ramen or the Cup of Noodles (can't remember which, since I don't own them)--"enjoy"! And guess what? You don't have to add seasoning and stir! Yay! At least, I HOPE my story isn't bland...only the reviews will tell... **HINT, HINT** R&R!!

DarkFlame136

ps: don't own Starbucks, either. Damn. I love java and tea. and cookies. can't forget the cookies. The Matrix isn't mine. That is, the MOVIE isn't mine...MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

And let's not forget the PS2. How did I live without you? **hugs game deck**

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Ch. 3: Not-Too-Long Ago in a Hideout Not-So-Far Away...

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Sometimes, the good guys manage to stay a step or two ahead of the villains. This ain't one of them.

Both sides had begun searching for the other Scrolls of Eternity around the same time. However, Cydius' lackeys had an advantage over Koenma's--not only did they have an elemental on their side first, but the score was already 0 to 1, Visitors in the lead (for all you sports fans ^_^).

Unfortunately, if Cydius were having a good day, the score would soon be 0 to 2.

And it was a good day indeed. For the most part.

"Master," Jiri poked his head into the lounge.

From the large, evil-looking chair with long, curled spikes on the back and a nice, soft cushion in the seat, Cydius rolled his dark eyes even though the other could not see him through the back of the chair.

"Jiri...how many times do I have to tell you to KNOCK first?"

"Sorry. I am not used to this being the throne room."

"You all can have your lounge back as soon as they finish rebuilding my old one. But I keep the flat-screen TV. It's a 60" wide-screen, and the surround sound makes The Matrix even better!"

"As you wish, my lord." Jiri couldn't help rolling his own eyes. 'Oh, great. Now we'll have to find another place to hook up the PS2!'

Without turning around, Cydius rebuked his fairly large second-in-command. "Don't roll you eyes, Jiri--you can get another one when I take over the human world."

"Speaking of luxury items, did you get my cappuccino?"

"Sorry, my lord: Starbucks ran out of the caramel one."

"Damn. I was looking forward to that."

"There is some good news..." Jiri trailed off.

"Really." Cydius rose; turning to regard Jiri, he leaned over the back of his chair (BETWEEN the spikes, mind you, not on top of them. that'd be messy X_X).

Jiri smiled. Cydius raised an eyebrow. "Who died? Hopefully that twit Koenma, though anyone else in my way will do."

"Sorry again, my lord. I brought you a bagel, though," he held up a bag.

"Chocolate raspberry?"

"And strawberry cream cheese."

"Kick ass," the excited overlord vaulted over the chair without spearing himself ("Damn!" Yusuke snaps from the background) and headed towards Jiri to claim his doggy bag.

Jiri sighed. "I sometimes forget you really are as young as you appear."

"I am 19--hundred, Jiri." Taking the bag, he realized the other man had something more to say. "Yes?"

"Your..."new recruit" has found another scroll."

Cydius' eyes lit up. "The second Earth scroll?"

"No: a Fire one."

He laughed, "Just as well."

"It IS ironic how someone can suddenly switch sides."

"More like do some repayment service for blasting my old throne room to hell." Now it was Cydius' turn to sigh. He patted the bag against his leg.

"One must admit: she DID do a thorough job."

His leader stared at him. "I sometimes forget how much you really appreciate a challenging opponent."

"Lady Mitsuno is one of the most powerful demons on this planet," Jiri said in obvious admiration, "I am very impressed that my lord is able to control her so easily."

"The Scrolls of Eternity hold much power, Jiri. All I had to do was add a little to the necromancy spell of the first Earth scroll after finding her remains."

The warrior was curious. "She is hardly anything more than a mindless slave, yet she seems as strong as ever. How is this, my lord?"

Cydius himself closed the door. "You know I trust you, Jiri."

"I have no interest in complex magic, Cydius."

"That, too," the younger (looking) man motioned for him to sit. Taking the seat opposite (a black and red beanbag chair), he started on his condensed explanation--and his bagel, while he was and at it.

"All right **takes bite**. Simply put **chew, chew**, the Scrolls of Eternity are elemental magic with a twist **opens cream cheese**, the twist being that, in reality, the "magic" is actually converted spirit energy in one of its most powerful forms."

"This is a damn good bagel," he continued, totally off-topic, "I'll have to order a dozen sometime."

"Back to what I was saying **munch, munch**; since I am telepathic, I am able to manipulate the minds of those with a weaker will. Of course, the dead have no will, so long as their spirit remains detached from their bodies. **takes another bite. doesn't speak for a while so he will not end up choking**. After reading the scroll a few times, I began to see how elemental-style necromancy worked, and realized that I had to take a few precautions. Elementals are very strong in spirit--excuse my pun, but you and I have no need NOT to be frank--so I had to come up with a way to prevent her spirit from interfering, keep her under MY control, and still have her able to use her full powers."

"I could not help but notice that she's not as fast as she used to be."

"Well, she IS out of practice, you know. I trust you also notice that she is unable to use her elemental powers." Cydius waited for a reply.

He got one, that he did. "Well, she DOES have a lack of spirit energy, since she has a lack of spirit, period."

Cydius frowned. "You are SO lucky I like you, Jiri. Her energy's coming from a different source."

Jiri, once again, spoke his mind. "I don't recommend you using your own for too much longer, Cydius."

"I forgot you are able to see power signatures," he admitted. "Either way, once we have the other Earth scroll, she can draw her power from any living thing around her, which is why I'd prefer to find that one first. A Fire scroll, though..." his grin was as vicious as it was cunning, "now we can have some fun and finally see a glimpse of the old Fire elemental she once was."

"I just hope you've covered all possibilities, my lord," Jiri remarked. "If Sairen gets wind of this--no pun intended on my part, either--you might end up in a world of hurt."

Cydius thought for a moment. "I must admit, Jiri, that I still have not decided what to do about THAT particular scenario. People are saying that she's calmed down a bit, though, and I haven't heard anything new."

Jiri shook his head. "Her and Lady Mitsuno...well...words cannot express accurately how close those two were. Long story short, her kicking your ass will only be the beginning. What if Lady Mitsuno's spirit contacts her in some way?"

"Now THAT, I've taken care of," he finished off his bagel. **chew, chew** **swallow** "I put a condition on her spirit that will not allow it to make any sort of move to interfere with my plans directly or indirectly. I have done nothing to bind it anywhere, so it is still where it was before. However, if any of those conditions are triggered by, say, crossing over from the Spirit World into this or the human one, the effects will immediately activate, sending her to a place that she may not want to go."

Jiri whistled in appreciation. "Manipulating dimensions is hard stuff."

"So next time, if I'm asleep for a few days, don't throw water on me."

Grunting, the other man got up and stretched. "As much as I don't want to ask..."

"Let me guess," Cydius rose as well, "You want to know where her spirit will go if she tries anything funny."

"Yet part of me would rather not."

"Jiri--I suggest you heed that part."