I'm sick. Estoy enferma. BAH. Actually, they think I have mono...which does NOT sound like fun, since I hardly even know what the hell mono IS. But it's sapping all my energy...never fear, though, I am OFF banishment from ff.net and I shall write more! Like now! Here's the deal...I need to decide if I want to finish Hiruiseki completely in a total of twelve or more chapters, make a sequel, or...um. Yeah. Between those two. If I finish Hiruiseki in this one fic, it'll be a lot longer. X.x I own a few people, I do not own the rest. Figure it out.
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"Rinku..." Kia blinked at the little youkai, who had now settled down in her lap. "I thought Z said you weren't feeling well."
"I'm fine!" the boy insisted. "I just have a cough."
Suzaku sighed, snatching the sake bottle and spinning it. A few seconds later, the poor Saint Beast turned rather white, as Kelsey went into a fit of hysterical laughter. Kaeru looked curiously from the bottle, to Suzaku, then to the person it was pointing at.
"Pucker up, Hotlips," Rei said solemnly, and even Shishiwakamaru couldn't suppress a grin at the look of horror on Suzaku's face.
Kuronue clapped a hand over his charge's eyes as the auburn-haired priestess leaned forward, seized Suzaku by the collar, and kissed him rather passionately. Chuu and Rinku both started clapping, and Kia smiled, rolling her eyes. Chitsuko, Kurama, Mizu, Touya, Z, Jin, and Kelsey were also smiling and Suzuki was practically wheezing.
Suzaku looked slightly ill, as Rei pulled back, giving the bottle a twirl. It landed on Yusuke. Soon, Rei was giving him the same treatment she had given Suzaku. The Tantei flushed a deep red...but that was nothing compared to the full-fledged crimson streak on his face when he discovered that he had to kiss Rinku. Kia had to hold the squirming boy firmly in order for that to be accomplished, and he sulked for awhile, kissing Z briefly on the cheek before returning to the Mirror Holder's lap and going to sleep.
The game was basically one weird couple after another. Z ended up kissing Chuu, who then got Kelsey. Kelsey kissed a scowling Hiei, the Jaganshi pecked Mizu on the lips, Mizu kissed Kuwabara...and Kuwabara was stuck with Kuronue. Up until then, the chimera had been keeping his hand over Kaeru's eyes, but was totally caught offguard when the bottle landed on him. Kuwabara wasn't thrilled either.
"But...but...he's a GUY!!" the boy protested. "And...aww...I'd rather kiss Yukina-san! Or even Kaeru! Or ANY of the girls! But...HIM!!"
"He could be feminine enough, I'm sure," Suzuki said wryly. He ducked as Kuronue hurled a pillow at his head, ruefully wishing there was something heavier to throw.
"Go ahead, Kuronue," Suzaku said, smirking. "Have fun."
Both males made a face as they quickly kissed, Kuronue wiping his mouth with his arm, spinning, and landing on Chitsuko. Truthfully, she was a good kisser, and he might have lingered, if Kurama had not been raising his eyebrows at his friend.
It quickly got worse. Once Chitsuko had smooched Shishiwakamaru, the samurai had landed on none other than Kia. The recently-untied Mirror Holder, who was still furious at him for his Dare, still looked particularly murderous. Not to mention neither of them got along anyway.
"I'm not kissing him!"
"I'm not kissing her!!" They exclaimed angrily, glaring at each other.
"It's just a kiss," Mizu said patiently. "Shishi, just kiss her on the cheek."
"Do I have to...?" the blue-haired bishounen asked plaintively.
"NO," Kia said heatedly.
"YES!" Everyone else shouted (except for Kaeru, Yukina, Hiei, and Jin).
With an expression of utmost suffering, Shishiwakamaru leaned over and brushed his lips against Kia's cheek. The Mirror Holder was still glaring at him, but managed to restrain herself.
Spin the Bottle proceeded relatively peacefully. Kia landed on Kurama, who ended up with Yukina. Yukina got Suzaku, who was spinning again when Botan and Shizuru, Kuwabara's older sister walked in. Botan explained that Keiko would be getting off her job soon, and would join them shortly. Suzaku ended up kissing the ferrygirl, who then kissed Suzuki, who landed on Shizuru. When it was Jin's turn, he landed on Kaeru.
"Observe the two males as something in their territory is threatened," Mizu whispered to Kelsey and Kia, as both Suzaku and Kuronue stiffened. The little Koorime was sitting calmly between the two, tilting her head slightly.
Jin slowly moved towards Kaeru, quickly leaning down and kissing her cheek. She smiled at him, not perturbed at all, and spun the bottle. It landed on Touya. Ignoring Suzaku's choked cry of rage, and Kuronue's glare, she kissed the Ice Master, then blinked and looked at the others.
"That was fun!" she said brightly. "What's next?"
"Seven Minutes in Heaven," Suzuki replied.
"How do you play?"
The blonde youkai froze. "Umm...well...you'll see..." he replied evasively. He held up a jar filled with slips of paper. "Each piece has a name on it. You pick one, and whoever's name is on the paper, you go in the closet with them for seven minutes, no more, no less."
For some reason, Touya and Mizu exchanged knowing smiles.
"I'll go first!" Rei announced, sticking her hand in the jar and extracting a slip. She unfolded it, took a look, and grinned, grabbing Suzaku and bounding into the closet. The door closed firmly before the startled Saint Beast could make a sound. Of course, that didn't stop the screams that rang out from the closet and the evil laugh that succeeded them. Both Kaeru and Yukina started to look a little frightened, and Kia and Kelsey both closed their eyes, sighing in unison. Rei soon reappeared, dragging an unconscious Suzaku with her. She dumped him unceremoniously on the floor.
"He couldn't handle it," the priestess explained with a wicked smirk. Suzuki obviously had some misgivings when he drew next, but sighed in relief when he got Mizu. Touya didn't seem all that concerned. Mizu was chuckling when she and the tall youkai returned. Rei was poking boredly at the jar with a finger, and no one noticed when the glass suddenly glowed white for a moment, then returned to normal. They were too busy gloating at Yusuke, who had selected Kaeru's name, and was busy trying to figure out how to explain this to her without getting killed by her two overprotective "guardians".
"I don't really understand, Yusuke-san," the Koorime said thoughtfully, perched on a box in the closet. "How is being in a closet like being in Heaven?"
"Well...it...it all depends...on...who you're with..." the Tantei said, somewhat lamely.
"...Oh." Kaeru still seemed confused. "So...why seven minutes?"
"Ask Kuronue," Yusuke said quickly, opening the door and ushering the Ice Maiden out-and coming face-to-face with Keiko.
"YUSUKE URAMESHI!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!!!"
Kaeru was looking from the livid girl to the blushing Detective. "Yusuke-san was just telling me about Heaven!" she told Keiko, whose eyes narrowed even more to tiny little slits.
"Was he now?"
The smaller girl caught a hint of anger in her tone, and hesitated. "...Are you mad?"
"Not at you." Keiko smiled down at the Koorime. "Just at this big BAKA standing next to you!!"
Thinking fast, Yusuke grabbed her wrist and ran into the closet, slamming the door shut behind them.
"Yusuke-san must really like Heaven..." Kaeru mused in the silence that followed.
"Hmm..." Rei was grinning like the Cheshire Cat now. "So did you make the first move?"
"Neither of us really moved much," the Koorime answered truthfully.
Mizu shook her head sharply at Kuronue, who had opened his mouth. He shut it, scowling darkly.
"So...what now?" Chitsuko looked over at the closed closet door. "They may be in there awhile..."
"There's another closet..." Suzuki said helpfully. "Down the hall." Everyone nodded mutely and relocated. If Kia found it odd that she somehow got Jin's name when it was her turn, she said nothing about it. She merely handed the sleeping Rinku to Z and went into the closet with the Wind Master. When the two emerged, both seemed somewhat dazed, but happy. The same was true with Touya and Mizu, and Kelsey and Shishiwakamaru. Neither Hiei or Z said anything once their turn was done, but...no one expected them to. Kuwabara seemed deliriously happy when he came out with Yukina, who was smiling slightly.
And then Kaeru drew Kuronue's name. The Koorime followed the chimera into the closet trustingly, and leaned against one of the walls, unable to find a box to sit on this time. For awhile, the two sat in silence. Kuronue knew what to do, but was hesitant to follow through. Kaeru, on the other hand, had no idea whatsoever.
After six minutes had passed, the chimera cleared his throat. "So...Kaeru..."
There was no reply.
Frowning slightly, he tried again. "Kaeru?"
This time, listening hard, he could detect a soft, steady breathing pattern. It sounded as if the Ice Maiden had fallen asleep. Smiling quietly in the darkness, he fumbled for her. One hand brushed against her hair and he quickly stumbled over to her, scooping up the sleeping Koorime into his arms.
Kia raised an eyebrow when the chimera emerged, cradling Kaeru. "You were THAT boring?"
"She's tired," he answered shortly.
"Riiiiight," Kelsey said skeptically.
Chitsuko giggled, then turned pink when she got Kurama on her turn. The two foxes went into the closet...and stayed in there for twenty minutes. It would've been longer, if Kia hadn't knocked on the door. It opened, and the two emerged, in various states of dishabille.
"We'll...err...be taking a walk..." Kurama announced hastily, and they fled.
"So, who's next?" Suzuki asked-and then several of the girls let out soft screams as they were plunged into blackness. The screams, however, were nothing compared to the horrific shriek of Rei.
"MUSHROOMS like the dark!!!!!" she yelled hysterically. "ESPECIALLY THE GLOW-IN-THE-DARK POISONOUS ONES FROM RIO DE JANEIRO!!"
"...Poisonous what?" Kaeru had woken up now; Kuronue could feel her shifting in his arms.
"Mushrooms." The Priestess sounded terrified. "There're the blood-sucking ones and the flesh-eating ones..."
"Flesh-eating??" Yukina squeaked.
"Yeah," Rei said enthusiastically, even through her fear. "They have these really long, sharp teeth, and they like to tear the skin off slowly while the victim is still alive!!"
Both Koorime gave small whimpers. And then everyone heard a high-pitched scream from somewhere above their heads.
"...You have an upstairs??" Kia sounded surprised.
"Guess so." Suzuki seemed nonchalant. "But if someone's screaming in my house, I suggest we check it out."
"There's no light," Z pointed out.
In response to that, there was a soft golden glow, radiating from the flashlight that Shizuru clutched. The psychic shrugged off the questioning stares. "I came prepared."
"I'll...stay right here..." Yukina said faintly, sinking down onto the couch. Rinku was still asleep, so Kia decided to leave him on the couch as well.
"I'll stay with her!" Kaeru volunteered immediately, wriggling out of Kuronue's hold and sitting beside her friend. For some reason, the chimera felt uneasy about this, but shrugged. She was old enough to take care of herself.
"All right...let's go then." Shishiwakamaru started towards the sound, cursing briefly as he made contact with several coffee tables. The others followed, Rei bringing up the rear and still muttering about "blood-thirsty fungi".
"Umm...perhaps...I'll...just...wait downstairs...with the girls..." Suzaku muttered nervously, hesitating on the ninth step, as they heard the scream again. "Y'know...protect them..."
"Don't even try it..." Mizu growled.
"But I can just-"
"SHUT UP!" Kia flared, turning and slapping him. There was a yelp, and a large thud, followed by several smaller thumps.
"Kia...?" Jin began warily.
"...Oops."
"Just step over him," Chuu instructed. "Or on him. He'll never know."
"I always wanted a doormat," Suzuki remarked. It was obvious by his tone that he was trying not to laugh.
Kuronue gladly trounced on the unconscious Saint Beast as he ascended the stairs.
"...Hn."
"Hiei?" Suzuki turned towards him. "What's the matter?"
"How can you tell if anything's the matter?" Rei grumbled. "It's just a 'Hn'."
Kia smiled. "You know Hiei for several years, you associate with him on a daily basis, you learn the lingo?"
"Something like that," the blonde youkai replied. "So, Hiei, now that we have decrypted your enigmatic language, what's wrong?"
"I don't like this." It was plain and simple. And true. Hiei felt that this whole thing...was strange. Wrong.
"Neither do I," Kuronue admitted.
The group finally reached the top of the stairs, looking around. Shizuru produced a smaller flashlight, which she handed to Suzuki. The group split up to check the three upstairs rooms.
"Anything?" Mizu called to Kia and Kelsey, as the two Mirror Holders emerged from a bedroom.
"Nothing!" Kelsey replied, and Kia shook her head.
"Nothing in the bathroom either," Touya reported.
"Or the other room," Shishiwakamaru added.
"You know...I'm starting to think Hiei's right...something's funny about this." Z frowned, violet eyes narrowing.
"It's not funny at all!" Chuu retorted.
"So maybe we can go..." Kia began, but was interrupted by a high, terrified scream, followed by a succession of thuds, and then a pained cry. Then silence reigned.
Everyone exchanged horrified looks. "That..." Mizu had turned pale. "That came from..."
Kuronue cursed loudly. "Downstairs!!"
"Yukiiiiiina!" Kuwabara wailed, almost stepping on Rei as he stampeded down the stairs.
"Wha...?" Suzaku slowly came to...only to have Kuwabara's foot connect with the back of his head.
"That looked like it hurt," Kelsey commented, vaulting over him and speeding after Kuwabara.
"A lot," Kia agreed, following her friend's lead.
Everyone else just ignored the Saint Beast, thundering down the stairs. Rei, Mizu, and Suzuki all blinked when the lights suddenly came back on. Hiei, however, narrowed his crimson eyes, then skidded to a halt. The couch was vacated.
"...Maybe they're somewhere in the house?" Botan suggested hopefully.
Shishiwakamaru snorted. "Yes, keep believing that, optimistic blue-haired girl."
"You forgot 'who wields an oar and can beat you over the head with it quite easily'!" she countered.
Mizu sighed. "Children, please..."
"They're not in the house," Rei announced, scooping Axe off the floor and hugging the weapon to her chest. "I can't sense any of them."
"YUKIIIIIIIIINAAAAAA!!!" Kuwabara screeched.
"SHUT UP!" Kelsey and Kia yelled at him.
Chuu perked up. "Wait...didn' Kurama an' Chitsuko say they were goin' for a walk? Maybe they saw them!"
"If you believed that, you're a fool," Shizuru responded.
"Look!" Jin knelt and scooped something off one of the couch cushions. He studied it with a frown, then handed it to Kuronue wordlessly. The chimera took one look and clenched his hand tightly, leaving an imprint of the object once he had uncurled it.
"A red flower hair ornament...?" Kia blinked at it. "But whose is it? Kaeru and Yukina were both wearing one."
"It's Kaeru's..." Kuronue whispered, indigo eyes narrowing.
"But...what happened to them??" Suzuki seemed bewildered.
"Taken, I expect." Hiei was also staring at the hair ornament, eyes darkening in anger.
"It was a TRAP!" Kelsey breathed, appalled. "It was designed to get us away from them, so...that one dude...Zippity-do-dah or something, could take them!!"
"And Rinku too?" Chuu frowned.
"What's going on?" Yusuke and Keiko walked up, both looking mussed and dreamy. Until they saw the tense looks on everyone's faces.
"They're gone," Suzaku said tightly, joining them. "They've been taken by Zenkai." He closed his eyes briefly. "Taken by the Koorime hunter himself."
*OOC*
I'm soooo mean. It be a cliffhanger, minna-san! ^^;; it's sooo nice to be back again and updating. So...I want those votes, and I want reviews! *coughs* Please? NEXT Chapter!
* Kaeru, Yukina, and Rinku...trapped in Zenkai's domain?
* Rinku manages to escape! Can he find help in time?
* Exactly why IS Zenkai a Koorime hunter? And how the heck can anyone calm down Kuronue, Kuwabara, Suzaku, and Hiei without tranquilizing them?!
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"Rinku..." Kia blinked at the little youkai, who had now settled down in her lap. "I thought Z said you weren't feeling well."
"I'm fine!" the boy insisted. "I just have a cough."
Suzaku sighed, snatching the sake bottle and spinning it. A few seconds later, the poor Saint Beast turned rather white, as Kelsey went into a fit of hysterical laughter. Kaeru looked curiously from the bottle, to Suzaku, then to the person it was pointing at.
"Pucker up, Hotlips," Rei said solemnly, and even Shishiwakamaru couldn't suppress a grin at the look of horror on Suzaku's face.
Kuronue clapped a hand over his charge's eyes as the auburn-haired priestess leaned forward, seized Suzaku by the collar, and kissed him rather passionately. Chuu and Rinku both started clapping, and Kia smiled, rolling her eyes. Chitsuko, Kurama, Mizu, Touya, Z, Jin, and Kelsey were also smiling and Suzuki was practically wheezing.
Suzaku looked slightly ill, as Rei pulled back, giving the bottle a twirl. It landed on Yusuke. Soon, Rei was giving him the same treatment she had given Suzaku. The Tantei flushed a deep red...but that was nothing compared to the full-fledged crimson streak on his face when he discovered that he had to kiss Rinku. Kia had to hold the squirming boy firmly in order for that to be accomplished, and he sulked for awhile, kissing Z briefly on the cheek before returning to the Mirror Holder's lap and going to sleep.
The game was basically one weird couple after another. Z ended up kissing Chuu, who then got Kelsey. Kelsey kissed a scowling Hiei, the Jaganshi pecked Mizu on the lips, Mizu kissed Kuwabara...and Kuwabara was stuck with Kuronue. Up until then, the chimera had been keeping his hand over Kaeru's eyes, but was totally caught offguard when the bottle landed on him. Kuwabara wasn't thrilled either.
"But...but...he's a GUY!!" the boy protested. "And...aww...I'd rather kiss Yukina-san! Or even Kaeru! Or ANY of the girls! But...HIM!!"
"He could be feminine enough, I'm sure," Suzuki said wryly. He ducked as Kuronue hurled a pillow at his head, ruefully wishing there was something heavier to throw.
"Go ahead, Kuronue," Suzaku said, smirking. "Have fun."
Both males made a face as they quickly kissed, Kuronue wiping his mouth with his arm, spinning, and landing on Chitsuko. Truthfully, she was a good kisser, and he might have lingered, if Kurama had not been raising his eyebrows at his friend.
It quickly got worse. Once Chitsuko had smooched Shishiwakamaru, the samurai had landed on none other than Kia. The recently-untied Mirror Holder, who was still furious at him for his Dare, still looked particularly murderous. Not to mention neither of them got along anyway.
"I'm not kissing him!"
"I'm not kissing her!!" They exclaimed angrily, glaring at each other.
"It's just a kiss," Mizu said patiently. "Shishi, just kiss her on the cheek."
"Do I have to...?" the blue-haired bishounen asked plaintively.
"NO," Kia said heatedly.
"YES!" Everyone else shouted (except for Kaeru, Yukina, Hiei, and Jin).
With an expression of utmost suffering, Shishiwakamaru leaned over and brushed his lips against Kia's cheek. The Mirror Holder was still glaring at him, but managed to restrain herself.
Spin the Bottle proceeded relatively peacefully. Kia landed on Kurama, who ended up with Yukina. Yukina got Suzaku, who was spinning again when Botan and Shizuru, Kuwabara's older sister walked in. Botan explained that Keiko would be getting off her job soon, and would join them shortly. Suzaku ended up kissing the ferrygirl, who then kissed Suzuki, who landed on Shizuru. When it was Jin's turn, he landed on Kaeru.
"Observe the two males as something in their territory is threatened," Mizu whispered to Kelsey and Kia, as both Suzaku and Kuronue stiffened. The little Koorime was sitting calmly between the two, tilting her head slightly.
Jin slowly moved towards Kaeru, quickly leaning down and kissing her cheek. She smiled at him, not perturbed at all, and spun the bottle. It landed on Touya. Ignoring Suzaku's choked cry of rage, and Kuronue's glare, she kissed the Ice Master, then blinked and looked at the others.
"That was fun!" she said brightly. "What's next?"
"Seven Minutes in Heaven," Suzuki replied.
"How do you play?"
The blonde youkai froze. "Umm...well...you'll see..." he replied evasively. He held up a jar filled with slips of paper. "Each piece has a name on it. You pick one, and whoever's name is on the paper, you go in the closet with them for seven minutes, no more, no less."
For some reason, Touya and Mizu exchanged knowing smiles.
"I'll go first!" Rei announced, sticking her hand in the jar and extracting a slip. She unfolded it, took a look, and grinned, grabbing Suzaku and bounding into the closet. The door closed firmly before the startled Saint Beast could make a sound. Of course, that didn't stop the screams that rang out from the closet and the evil laugh that succeeded them. Both Kaeru and Yukina started to look a little frightened, and Kia and Kelsey both closed their eyes, sighing in unison. Rei soon reappeared, dragging an unconscious Suzaku with her. She dumped him unceremoniously on the floor.
"He couldn't handle it," the priestess explained with a wicked smirk. Suzuki obviously had some misgivings when he drew next, but sighed in relief when he got Mizu. Touya didn't seem all that concerned. Mizu was chuckling when she and the tall youkai returned. Rei was poking boredly at the jar with a finger, and no one noticed when the glass suddenly glowed white for a moment, then returned to normal. They were too busy gloating at Yusuke, who had selected Kaeru's name, and was busy trying to figure out how to explain this to her without getting killed by her two overprotective "guardians".
"I don't really understand, Yusuke-san," the Koorime said thoughtfully, perched on a box in the closet. "How is being in a closet like being in Heaven?"
"Well...it...it all depends...on...who you're with..." the Tantei said, somewhat lamely.
"...Oh." Kaeru still seemed confused. "So...why seven minutes?"
"Ask Kuronue," Yusuke said quickly, opening the door and ushering the Ice Maiden out-and coming face-to-face with Keiko.
"YUSUKE URAMESHI!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!!!"
Kaeru was looking from the livid girl to the blushing Detective. "Yusuke-san was just telling me about Heaven!" she told Keiko, whose eyes narrowed even more to tiny little slits.
"Was he now?"
The smaller girl caught a hint of anger in her tone, and hesitated. "...Are you mad?"
"Not at you." Keiko smiled down at the Koorime. "Just at this big BAKA standing next to you!!"
Thinking fast, Yusuke grabbed her wrist and ran into the closet, slamming the door shut behind them.
"Yusuke-san must really like Heaven..." Kaeru mused in the silence that followed.
"Hmm..." Rei was grinning like the Cheshire Cat now. "So did you make the first move?"
"Neither of us really moved much," the Koorime answered truthfully.
Mizu shook her head sharply at Kuronue, who had opened his mouth. He shut it, scowling darkly.
"So...what now?" Chitsuko looked over at the closed closet door. "They may be in there awhile..."
"There's another closet..." Suzuki said helpfully. "Down the hall." Everyone nodded mutely and relocated. If Kia found it odd that she somehow got Jin's name when it was her turn, she said nothing about it. She merely handed the sleeping Rinku to Z and went into the closet with the Wind Master. When the two emerged, both seemed somewhat dazed, but happy. The same was true with Touya and Mizu, and Kelsey and Shishiwakamaru. Neither Hiei or Z said anything once their turn was done, but...no one expected them to. Kuwabara seemed deliriously happy when he came out with Yukina, who was smiling slightly.
And then Kaeru drew Kuronue's name. The Koorime followed the chimera into the closet trustingly, and leaned against one of the walls, unable to find a box to sit on this time. For awhile, the two sat in silence. Kuronue knew what to do, but was hesitant to follow through. Kaeru, on the other hand, had no idea whatsoever.
After six minutes had passed, the chimera cleared his throat. "So...Kaeru..."
There was no reply.
Frowning slightly, he tried again. "Kaeru?"
This time, listening hard, he could detect a soft, steady breathing pattern. It sounded as if the Ice Maiden had fallen asleep. Smiling quietly in the darkness, he fumbled for her. One hand brushed against her hair and he quickly stumbled over to her, scooping up the sleeping Koorime into his arms.
Kia raised an eyebrow when the chimera emerged, cradling Kaeru. "You were THAT boring?"
"She's tired," he answered shortly.
"Riiiiight," Kelsey said skeptically.
Chitsuko giggled, then turned pink when she got Kurama on her turn. The two foxes went into the closet...and stayed in there for twenty minutes. It would've been longer, if Kia hadn't knocked on the door. It opened, and the two emerged, in various states of dishabille.
"We'll...err...be taking a walk..." Kurama announced hastily, and they fled.
"So, who's next?" Suzuki asked-and then several of the girls let out soft screams as they were plunged into blackness. The screams, however, were nothing compared to the horrific shriek of Rei.
"MUSHROOMS like the dark!!!!!" she yelled hysterically. "ESPECIALLY THE GLOW-IN-THE-DARK POISONOUS ONES FROM RIO DE JANEIRO!!"
"...Poisonous what?" Kaeru had woken up now; Kuronue could feel her shifting in his arms.
"Mushrooms." The Priestess sounded terrified. "There're the blood-sucking ones and the flesh-eating ones..."
"Flesh-eating??" Yukina squeaked.
"Yeah," Rei said enthusiastically, even through her fear. "They have these really long, sharp teeth, and they like to tear the skin off slowly while the victim is still alive!!"
Both Koorime gave small whimpers. And then everyone heard a high-pitched scream from somewhere above their heads.
"...You have an upstairs??" Kia sounded surprised.
"Guess so." Suzuki seemed nonchalant. "But if someone's screaming in my house, I suggest we check it out."
"There's no light," Z pointed out.
In response to that, there was a soft golden glow, radiating from the flashlight that Shizuru clutched. The psychic shrugged off the questioning stares. "I came prepared."
"I'll...stay right here..." Yukina said faintly, sinking down onto the couch. Rinku was still asleep, so Kia decided to leave him on the couch as well.
"I'll stay with her!" Kaeru volunteered immediately, wriggling out of Kuronue's hold and sitting beside her friend. For some reason, the chimera felt uneasy about this, but shrugged. She was old enough to take care of herself.
"All right...let's go then." Shishiwakamaru started towards the sound, cursing briefly as he made contact with several coffee tables. The others followed, Rei bringing up the rear and still muttering about "blood-thirsty fungi".
"Umm...perhaps...I'll...just...wait downstairs...with the girls..." Suzaku muttered nervously, hesitating on the ninth step, as they heard the scream again. "Y'know...protect them..."
"Don't even try it..." Mizu growled.
"But I can just-"
"SHUT UP!" Kia flared, turning and slapping him. There was a yelp, and a large thud, followed by several smaller thumps.
"Kia...?" Jin began warily.
"...Oops."
"Just step over him," Chuu instructed. "Or on him. He'll never know."
"I always wanted a doormat," Suzuki remarked. It was obvious by his tone that he was trying not to laugh.
Kuronue gladly trounced on the unconscious Saint Beast as he ascended the stairs.
"...Hn."
"Hiei?" Suzuki turned towards him. "What's the matter?"
"How can you tell if anything's the matter?" Rei grumbled. "It's just a 'Hn'."
Kia smiled. "You know Hiei for several years, you associate with him on a daily basis, you learn the lingo?"
"Something like that," the blonde youkai replied. "So, Hiei, now that we have decrypted your enigmatic language, what's wrong?"
"I don't like this." It was plain and simple. And true. Hiei felt that this whole thing...was strange. Wrong.
"Neither do I," Kuronue admitted.
The group finally reached the top of the stairs, looking around. Shizuru produced a smaller flashlight, which she handed to Suzuki. The group split up to check the three upstairs rooms.
"Anything?" Mizu called to Kia and Kelsey, as the two Mirror Holders emerged from a bedroom.
"Nothing!" Kelsey replied, and Kia shook her head.
"Nothing in the bathroom either," Touya reported.
"Or the other room," Shishiwakamaru added.
"You know...I'm starting to think Hiei's right...something's funny about this." Z frowned, violet eyes narrowing.
"It's not funny at all!" Chuu retorted.
"So maybe we can go..." Kia began, but was interrupted by a high, terrified scream, followed by a succession of thuds, and then a pained cry. Then silence reigned.
Everyone exchanged horrified looks. "That..." Mizu had turned pale. "That came from..."
Kuronue cursed loudly. "Downstairs!!"
"Yukiiiiiina!" Kuwabara wailed, almost stepping on Rei as he stampeded down the stairs.
"Wha...?" Suzaku slowly came to...only to have Kuwabara's foot connect with the back of his head.
"That looked like it hurt," Kelsey commented, vaulting over him and speeding after Kuwabara.
"A lot," Kia agreed, following her friend's lead.
Everyone else just ignored the Saint Beast, thundering down the stairs. Rei, Mizu, and Suzuki all blinked when the lights suddenly came back on. Hiei, however, narrowed his crimson eyes, then skidded to a halt. The couch was vacated.
"...Maybe they're somewhere in the house?" Botan suggested hopefully.
Shishiwakamaru snorted. "Yes, keep believing that, optimistic blue-haired girl."
"You forgot 'who wields an oar and can beat you over the head with it quite easily'!" she countered.
Mizu sighed. "Children, please..."
"They're not in the house," Rei announced, scooping Axe off the floor and hugging the weapon to her chest. "I can't sense any of them."
"YUKIIIIIIIIINAAAAAA!!!" Kuwabara screeched.
"SHUT UP!" Kelsey and Kia yelled at him.
Chuu perked up. "Wait...didn' Kurama an' Chitsuko say they were goin' for a walk? Maybe they saw them!"
"If you believed that, you're a fool," Shizuru responded.
"Look!" Jin knelt and scooped something off one of the couch cushions. He studied it with a frown, then handed it to Kuronue wordlessly. The chimera took one look and clenched his hand tightly, leaving an imprint of the object once he had uncurled it.
"A red flower hair ornament...?" Kia blinked at it. "But whose is it? Kaeru and Yukina were both wearing one."
"It's Kaeru's..." Kuronue whispered, indigo eyes narrowing.
"But...what happened to them??" Suzuki seemed bewildered.
"Taken, I expect." Hiei was also staring at the hair ornament, eyes darkening in anger.
"It was a TRAP!" Kelsey breathed, appalled. "It was designed to get us away from them, so...that one dude...Zippity-do-dah or something, could take them!!"
"And Rinku too?" Chuu frowned.
"What's going on?" Yusuke and Keiko walked up, both looking mussed and dreamy. Until they saw the tense looks on everyone's faces.
"They're gone," Suzaku said tightly, joining them. "They've been taken by Zenkai." He closed his eyes briefly. "Taken by the Koorime hunter himself."
*OOC*
I'm soooo mean. It be a cliffhanger, minna-san! ^^;; it's sooo nice to be back again and updating. So...I want those votes, and I want reviews! *coughs* Please? NEXT Chapter!
* Kaeru, Yukina, and Rinku...trapped in Zenkai's domain?
* Rinku manages to escape! Can he find help in time?
* Exactly why IS Zenkai a Koorime hunter? And how the heck can anyone calm down Kuronue, Kuwabara, Suzaku, and Hiei without tranquilizing them?!