I do NOT own any of the Yu Yu Hakusho characters. However I do own Genkan,
Rika (Yes, STILL soon to come,) Ookami, the other nine youkai fellows and
this story... phew... ^^;
To recap what's been going on: In the last chapter, Hiei and Genkan entered Kon city only to find many lower-class demons. However when Genkan questions a demon she finds out there was indeed some suspicious activity happening in Kon. After losing her patience she discovers an underground passageway where only Hiei could enter and Genkan couldn't. Hiei reaches a seemingly bottomless pit and falls down to where ten youkai demons dwell. They had with them several human prisoners and one who was actually the Aura. Now, with Hiei so weakened, can he defeat the ten powerful youkai? Is the Aura one of good or one of evil? Find out now, my friends!
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"You're not a youkai like us! Tell me how you got through!" The wolf youkai repeated. Then he turned back to Riku and Kokufuu. "What the Hell? I told you to grab him!"
The two youkai sweat a little then bowed their heads in apology. "Oh! Right away!" They shuffled over to Hiei and started moving closer to him slowly.
Riku grinned and said, "Take it easy, friend. We won't hurt you."
Kokufuu added, "Well, not much..." They both chuckled.
Hiei didn't step back. He stood in place, breathing heavily with blood trickling, rather flowing steadily out of the side of his mouth. He coughed a few times; closing his eyes then reopening them to see disfigured objects of red shading. The figures seemed to multiply then reduce repeatedly. The bloodstained bandanna fell to the ground and Hiei had realized it was his and the Jagan eye was exposed. "I'll be swallowed whole..." he muttered, just barely. Hiei could hear noises that he expected to be voices of the youkai but at the time it could just as easily be mistaken for his own eardrums beating in his head. Somehow, he could faintly feel the two demons nearing him.
Riku's lemur ears twitched. "Hey, what the hell is that?" The demons looked up to see someone nearing them, falling down the huge hole. "It must be that meddlesome yasha!"
Kokufuu turned to the youkai leader. "Ookami, what should we do?"
"It may take her years to get down on this level. There are several barriers—each one, stronger then the next. So don't you worry about her... Just grab this pitiful demon so I can put him out of his misery."
Riku and Kokufuu nodded and turned to Hiei, but he was no longer there...
"Hey! Where'd he go!!!"
"You said 'pitiful.' Did you not?" Hiei growled.
Ookami dashed his eyes around, not amused. "So then, where are you young fellow? Is this some type of Jagan defense? Being fully concealed from enemy eyes? You must be part of a Youkai clan. How else could you have easily slipped through the Youkai barriers?" There was no answer. "Hello?" Ookami gestured the youkai to spread out. He looked back up the hole to see that Genkan was no longer there. "Huh? Where's that..."
"AAAAHHH!!!" a piercing scream erupted from one of the youkai; a cat demon had fallen to the ground, shivering as if to be having a seizure. The youkais moved closer to examine the cat demon to find some sort of sizzling poison crawling along the demon's arm and back.
Ookami barked, "...But this is..."
"A sample of the Death Tree's doing." A chilled voice spoke.
Ookami twitched, recognizing the voice. "Grr... How can it be? Youko?"
Youko Kurama emerged from the shadows, letting the Death Tree retract back to a seed. "Ookami. I thought you had died long ago."
"Just as I thought of you."
"Ironic how much alike we are and yet so different."
"Indeed." Ookami crossed his arms and glimpsed around the area once more. "Where's the fire demon? I assume he's associated with you somehow."
Youko hesitated. He changed the subject. "You—all of you are known as Ten of Makai. Isn't that right?"
Ookami laughed, "Heh. That's right. Heaven of Hell. Now, I want you to give me some answers about that fire demon. Is there something about him that is of great significance?"
"I don't know."
"Liar. You should know better then to lie to me. My senses are just as good as yours are. Maybe even better."
Youko stared at the wolf youkai. They were much alike. Although, Ookami was of course of the wolf kind and Youko was of fox kind. Ookami had black wolf ears sticking out of his short, black, spiky hair with long ear tails. His eyes were half yellow and half green. (AND he has the same great body build as Youko! They're also the same height! ^^) Youko had met Ookami shortly before he had taken refuge in a human form. It wasn't a pleasant meeting nor was it a long one. They had passed each other at a place in the Spirit World. Ookami had just been fleeing from a crime scene where he had murdered an apparition. Youko cocked a half-smile. "You remember the time we first saw each other—after the death of Tenchi Tatsuya?" Ookami listened. "They blamed me for that death. It was counted as my sin."
"Hm. Ah, yes. Master Tatsuya. Such a pity, we lost such a famous face. Don't worry Youko—The fine people of Spirit World were immediately notified of this little mix-up and I was pointed out as the culprit. It was sort of good thing and a bad thing because I was indeed awarded with such a superb victory and a well-respected title among demons but—additionally I received a one-way trip to Hell for eternity."
"If I recall correctly, you were sent to TRUE Hell not the Demon Underworld, where we stand at this very moment."
Ookami grinned. "Yes, I slipped through a secret gate to jump up a level..." he then caught a scent. Quickly, he dashed away after he felt the presence of Hiei. Hiei had slashed through the air and landed at the sport where Ookami had stood. "Nice try," Ookami growled.
Riku and Kokufuu led the youkai in to attack him instantly. Youko leaped in front of Hiei and the eight youkai demons slid to a halt, unsure if they were allowed to attack the fox demon or not. They turned to Ookami, who was now leaning up against a rock wall behind them. Youko said, "I can't have you killing this demon."
"Tell me why." Ookami stood up.
"A friend's request."
"FRIEND!? YOU have friends?"
Youko's Death Tree began to grow off his arm again. "Back off or suffer the same fate as your other youkai friend."
"So, you're choosing to kill off your own kind now, huh?"
"If that's the way my road takes me. Yes."
Hiei collapsed to the ground. His eyes were closed, except for the Jagan eye. Youko looked out of the corner of his eye at the brutally beaten fire demon. 'Hiei...' groaned the Aura. 'They'll kill all of your friends... Including your sister...' Hiei's eyes shot open. His fingers folded into vicious fists and he bolted up off the ground and out of sight. Youko turned to see only puddles of blood at his feet.
Ookami fell into darkness and disappeared to the sound of painful cries. Kokufuu shuddered and watched a mysterious dragon weave around the area. He recognized the Dragon of the Darkness Flame and warned the Ten of Makai, "The Dragon! Fall back, everyone! Let's move!" Abruptly, the remains of the pack dashed away and disappeared.
As the dust settled, the Dragon of the Darkness Flame had gone. Hiei took down two of the youkai maliciously. Youko stood silently, feeling somewhat disappointed since he hadn't gotten the battle he wished to have with Ookami. Hiei felt the once horrendous pain slip off his back but still he could feel something... He looked over to where the Aura was chained up. She was gone. One of the Ten of Makai must have taken her as they left. "Dammit..." he grumbled.
Youko walked over to the large gaping hole and looked up it. He did wonder how Hiei had managed to get through the barriers.
"Why are you here?" Hiei groaned, stretching his shoulder.
"I came to assist in..."
"No. Why are YOU here?"
"Hm. You're wondering where Shuichi is? I'M here because only Youkai are supposed to be able to get through those barriers. How you got through, is a question." He stared up at the far away sky.
Hiei cringed. "How did you know?"
"A little voice." He paused. "A young female demon named Genkan told me."
"Genkan... Where is she?"
"How long have you known her?" Youko twiddled a small twig between his fingers, watching blankly.
Hiei stared at Youko, trying to read his thoughts but getting nothing. "Hn." He groaned, wobbling up to a standing position. He found his tattered bandanna on the rocky floor and picked up, feeling muscles pulling and bones snapping in and out of place. Slipping it back over his forehead, he finally spoke. "We met in the mortal realm only days ago. I can't remember how many days exactly though. Where is she?" he asked again.
Youko grumbled. "She's above." With that, Hiei paced over to the hole. Youko turned towards Hiei, making him stop.
"What?" Hiei inquired.
He hesitated. "I must know—What your relationship with Genkan is..."
Hiei's eyes almost bulged of surprise after hearing that. 'Did he really just say that?' He dashed his eyes around, wondering himself, what his relationship with Genkan was. 'Wait, what the hell are you thinking!?' He answered, "It's—business. Koenma asked her to escort me to the Aura. Why are you interested?"
"I'm not interested in her..."
"Actually I was asking why you wanted to know."
Youko sneered, looking at the wall. He hardly knew what words had fallen out of his mouth. "Alright..." he paused. "It's not—ever—my nature to be so openly interested in someone in such a way but in this case..."
Hiei narrowed his eyes but he wasn't sure if he was angry, jealous, or just plain stupefied. "Y—You're saying you—like her?"
"I'm fascinated by her strength. It's amazing."
Now Hiei wanted to just burst with laughter. 'Ha! Little do you know that SHE is fascinated by MY strength.' Hiei smirked a little. "Youko, you know that soon you'll be held back in captivity and Shuichi will be on the outside again. Besides, Genkan will probably be off and running after her task is finished. Trust me, I know her type."
Youko turned back to Hiei and coldly said, "If I didn't know any better, it'd seem like you're just trying to ward me off so you can have her."
"Can you even hear yourself Youko?"
"It's true, isn't it? You want her as more then a partner or friend!" Hiei shrugged and started to walk past Youko. "Hold it! You can't go back up there this way."
"What are you talking about now? I still have a job to full-fill so I have to reunite with Genkan and get moving. We have to find that Aura so I can go back to fighting whenever I feel like it." He was about to leap up but Youko snatched his leg and pulled him back down. This infuriated Hiei, and he jumped up feeling a headache coming on. "What is your problem!?"
Youko glared at Hiei. "I'm serious about her and I can't see YOU being serious about anyone but yourself. So, tell me if you plan on confessing your feelings for her. If you do, I swear I'll kill you."
"Kill ME!!! You think YOU can kill ME!!! I don't know what I've said about you before—Having power—but over the time I have gotten stronger and I could take you down with ease!"
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Heehee.... there's the 4th chappy done! Youko and Hiei are getting into a heated argument that could ultimately destroy one of them! What will happen! Where is the Aura! Who is the Aura! Who is Genkan! Stay tuned to find out!
P.S. Oh, I hope there aren't any "goofs" here... but if there are, I apologize. For instance, I don't know if I spelt Shuichi correctly...
To recap what's been going on: In the last chapter, Hiei and Genkan entered Kon city only to find many lower-class demons. However when Genkan questions a demon she finds out there was indeed some suspicious activity happening in Kon. After losing her patience she discovers an underground passageway where only Hiei could enter and Genkan couldn't. Hiei reaches a seemingly bottomless pit and falls down to where ten youkai demons dwell. They had with them several human prisoners and one who was actually the Aura. Now, with Hiei so weakened, can he defeat the ten powerful youkai? Is the Aura one of good or one of evil? Find out now, my friends!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
"You're not a youkai like us! Tell me how you got through!" The wolf youkai repeated. Then he turned back to Riku and Kokufuu. "What the Hell? I told you to grab him!"
The two youkai sweat a little then bowed their heads in apology. "Oh! Right away!" They shuffled over to Hiei and started moving closer to him slowly.
Riku grinned and said, "Take it easy, friend. We won't hurt you."
Kokufuu added, "Well, not much..." They both chuckled.
Hiei didn't step back. He stood in place, breathing heavily with blood trickling, rather flowing steadily out of the side of his mouth. He coughed a few times; closing his eyes then reopening them to see disfigured objects of red shading. The figures seemed to multiply then reduce repeatedly. The bloodstained bandanna fell to the ground and Hiei had realized it was his and the Jagan eye was exposed. "I'll be swallowed whole..." he muttered, just barely. Hiei could hear noises that he expected to be voices of the youkai but at the time it could just as easily be mistaken for his own eardrums beating in his head. Somehow, he could faintly feel the two demons nearing him.
Riku's lemur ears twitched. "Hey, what the hell is that?" The demons looked up to see someone nearing them, falling down the huge hole. "It must be that meddlesome yasha!"
Kokufuu turned to the youkai leader. "Ookami, what should we do?"
"It may take her years to get down on this level. There are several barriers—each one, stronger then the next. So don't you worry about her... Just grab this pitiful demon so I can put him out of his misery."
Riku and Kokufuu nodded and turned to Hiei, but he was no longer there...
"Hey! Where'd he go!!!"
"You said 'pitiful.' Did you not?" Hiei growled.
Ookami dashed his eyes around, not amused. "So then, where are you young fellow? Is this some type of Jagan defense? Being fully concealed from enemy eyes? You must be part of a Youkai clan. How else could you have easily slipped through the Youkai barriers?" There was no answer. "Hello?" Ookami gestured the youkai to spread out. He looked back up the hole to see that Genkan was no longer there. "Huh? Where's that..."
"AAAAHHH!!!" a piercing scream erupted from one of the youkai; a cat demon had fallen to the ground, shivering as if to be having a seizure. The youkais moved closer to examine the cat demon to find some sort of sizzling poison crawling along the demon's arm and back.
Ookami barked, "...But this is..."
"A sample of the Death Tree's doing." A chilled voice spoke.
Ookami twitched, recognizing the voice. "Grr... How can it be? Youko?"
Youko Kurama emerged from the shadows, letting the Death Tree retract back to a seed. "Ookami. I thought you had died long ago."
"Just as I thought of you."
"Ironic how much alike we are and yet so different."
"Indeed." Ookami crossed his arms and glimpsed around the area once more. "Where's the fire demon? I assume he's associated with you somehow."
Youko hesitated. He changed the subject. "You—all of you are known as Ten of Makai. Isn't that right?"
Ookami laughed, "Heh. That's right. Heaven of Hell. Now, I want you to give me some answers about that fire demon. Is there something about him that is of great significance?"
"I don't know."
"Liar. You should know better then to lie to me. My senses are just as good as yours are. Maybe even better."
Youko stared at the wolf youkai. They were much alike. Although, Ookami was of course of the wolf kind and Youko was of fox kind. Ookami had black wolf ears sticking out of his short, black, spiky hair with long ear tails. His eyes were half yellow and half green. (AND he has the same great body build as Youko! They're also the same height! ^^) Youko had met Ookami shortly before he had taken refuge in a human form. It wasn't a pleasant meeting nor was it a long one. They had passed each other at a place in the Spirit World. Ookami had just been fleeing from a crime scene where he had murdered an apparition. Youko cocked a half-smile. "You remember the time we first saw each other—after the death of Tenchi Tatsuya?" Ookami listened. "They blamed me for that death. It was counted as my sin."
"Hm. Ah, yes. Master Tatsuya. Such a pity, we lost such a famous face. Don't worry Youko—The fine people of Spirit World were immediately notified of this little mix-up and I was pointed out as the culprit. It was sort of good thing and a bad thing because I was indeed awarded with such a superb victory and a well-respected title among demons but—additionally I received a one-way trip to Hell for eternity."
"If I recall correctly, you were sent to TRUE Hell not the Demon Underworld, where we stand at this very moment."
Ookami grinned. "Yes, I slipped through a secret gate to jump up a level..." he then caught a scent. Quickly, he dashed away after he felt the presence of Hiei. Hiei had slashed through the air and landed at the sport where Ookami had stood. "Nice try," Ookami growled.
Riku and Kokufuu led the youkai in to attack him instantly. Youko leaped in front of Hiei and the eight youkai demons slid to a halt, unsure if they were allowed to attack the fox demon or not. They turned to Ookami, who was now leaning up against a rock wall behind them. Youko said, "I can't have you killing this demon."
"Tell me why." Ookami stood up.
"A friend's request."
"FRIEND!? YOU have friends?"
Youko's Death Tree began to grow off his arm again. "Back off or suffer the same fate as your other youkai friend."
"So, you're choosing to kill off your own kind now, huh?"
"If that's the way my road takes me. Yes."
Hiei collapsed to the ground. His eyes were closed, except for the Jagan eye. Youko looked out of the corner of his eye at the brutally beaten fire demon. 'Hiei...' groaned the Aura. 'They'll kill all of your friends... Including your sister...' Hiei's eyes shot open. His fingers folded into vicious fists and he bolted up off the ground and out of sight. Youko turned to see only puddles of blood at his feet.
Ookami fell into darkness and disappeared to the sound of painful cries. Kokufuu shuddered and watched a mysterious dragon weave around the area. He recognized the Dragon of the Darkness Flame and warned the Ten of Makai, "The Dragon! Fall back, everyone! Let's move!" Abruptly, the remains of the pack dashed away and disappeared.
As the dust settled, the Dragon of the Darkness Flame had gone. Hiei took down two of the youkai maliciously. Youko stood silently, feeling somewhat disappointed since he hadn't gotten the battle he wished to have with Ookami. Hiei felt the once horrendous pain slip off his back but still he could feel something... He looked over to where the Aura was chained up. She was gone. One of the Ten of Makai must have taken her as they left. "Dammit..." he grumbled.
Youko walked over to the large gaping hole and looked up it. He did wonder how Hiei had managed to get through the barriers.
"Why are you here?" Hiei groaned, stretching his shoulder.
"I came to assist in..."
"No. Why are YOU here?"
"Hm. You're wondering where Shuichi is? I'M here because only Youkai are supposed to be able to get through those barriers. How you got through, is a question." He stared up at the far away sky.
Hiei cringed. "How did you know?"
"A little voice." He paused. "A young female demon named Genkan told me."
"Genkan... Where is she?"
"How long have you known her?" Youko twiddled a small twig between his fingers, watching blankly.
Hiei stared at Youko, trying to read his thoughts but getting nothing. "Hn." He groaned, wobbling up to a standing position. He found his tattered bandanna on the rocky floor and picked up, feeling muscles pulling and bones snapping in and out of place. Slipping it back over his forehead, he finally spoke. "We met in the mortal realm only days ago. I can't remember how many days exactly though. Where is she?" he asked again.
Youko grumbled. "She's above." With that, Hiei paced over to the hole. Youko turned towards Hiei, making him stop.
"What?" Hiei inquired.
He hesitated. "I must know—What your relationship with Genkan is..."
Hiei's eyes almost bulged of surprise after hearing that. 'Did he really just say that?' He dashed his eyes around, wondering himself, what his relationship with Genkan was. 'Wait, what the hell are you thinking!?' He answered, "It's—business. Koenma asked her to escort me to the Aura. Why are you interested?"
"I'm not interested in her..."
"Actually I was asking why you wanted to know."
Youko sneered, looking at the wall. He hardly knew what words had fallen out of his mouth. "Alright..." he paused. "It's not—ever—my nature to be so openly interested in someone in such a way but in this case..."
Hiei narrowed his eyes but he wasn't sure if he was angry, jealous, or just plain stupefied. "Y—You're saying you—like her?"
"I'm fascinated by her strength. It's amazing."
Now Hiei wanted to just burst with laughter. 'Ha! Little do you know that SHE is fascinated by MY strength.' Hiei smirked a little. "Youko, you know that soon you'll be held back in captivity and Shuichi will be on the outside again. Besides, Genkan will probably be off and running after her task is finished. Trust me, I know her type."
Youko turned back to Hiei and coldly said, "If I didn't know any better, it'd seem like you're just trying to ward me off so you can have her."
"Can you even hear yourself Youko?"
"It's true, isn't it? You want her as more then a partner or friend!" Hiei shrugged and started to walk past Youko. "Hold it! You can't go back up there this way."
"What are you talking about now? I still have a job to full-fill so I have to reunite with Genkan and get moving. We have to find that Aura so I can go back to fighting whenever I feel like it." He was about to leap up but Youko snatched his leg and pulled him back down. This infuriated Hiei, and he jumped up feeling a headache coming on. "What is your problem!?"
Youko glared at Hiei. "I'm serious about her and I can't see YOU being serious about anyone but yourself. So, tell me if you plan on confessing your feelings for her. If you do, I swear I'll kill you."
"Kill ME!!! You think YOU can kill ME!!! I don't know what I've said about you before—Having power—but over the time I have gotten stronger and I could take you down with ease!"
----------
Heehee.... there's the 4th chappy done! Youko and Hiei are getting into a heated argument that could ultimately destroy one of them! What will happen! Where is the Aura! Who is the Aura! Who is Genkan! Stay tuned to find out!
P.S. Oh, I hope there aren't any "goofs" here... but if there are, I apologize. For instance, I don't know if I spelt Shuichi correctly...
