Chapter 14

Rescue Mission

Yukina opened her eyes to the sound of chirping birds. She realized she was laying on something warm and looked up.  Riku's sleeping face greeted her. She remembered him being hurt the previous day. She couldn't get the venom out but her powers strengthened his immune system. He would survive.

She then felt something slip of her shoulders. She looked down to see Hiei's cloak over her as a blanket. She smiled and got up, doing her best not to wake Riku. She looked around the cave but saw no sign of Hiei. Where could he be? She thought.

As if on cue, Hiei appeared out of nowhere with some fish in his hands. "I see you awake" he said starting another fire. Yukina sat on the opposite side of the blaze as the fish cooked. "Oh by the way, while I was heading back I found this strange berry" Hiei said reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a golden berry. Yukina recognized it as the one Riku ate when he fought the bird demon. "Riku ate that berry when he was wounded. If we give it to him, it should instantly heal him" she said taking it in her hands. "Lets find out" Hiei replied getting up and heading for Riku's sleeping form. Yukina followed.

The knelled down on opposite ends of Riku. Hiei grabbed the wolf's jaw and forced it open. Yukina plopped the berry in and Hiei closed the mouth.  On instinct, Riku began to chew. After a few seconds, he swallowed. A second later his muscles tensed as the berry took effect. (Think how the Z warriors heal when they eat sensu beans) His scars disappeared and his eyes opened. He sat up breathing hard. Yukina smiled and hugged him. "Riku, thank goodness your all better" she said happily. "What you guys do to me?" he asked as Yukina broke the hug. "Hiei found one of those gold berries you ate to heal yourself. We simply made you eat it" she replied. "Good thinking. I see you've learned of the Heart Fruit's powers" Riku said. He stood up and looked around. "Where's the Crescent Edge?" he asked. "Catch" Hiei said tossing the sheathed sword to the wolf. Riku easily caught it.

"The foods ready" Yukina said from the fire. Yukina ate three fish, Hiei had two and a half, and Riku had six. After they finished, they prepared to leave. "Hiei, why don't you use that eye of yours to see where the rest of your group is" Riku said strapping his sword on. "Hn" Hiei replied. He closed his eyes as the Jagan glowed. He saw everyone in pretty bad shape surrounded by walls. He opened his eyes. "What's wrong Hiei?" Yukina asked with worry in her voice. "I saw them, their prisoners somewhere" he replied. "Can you see where they are?" Riku asked. "I'll see" Hiei replied closing his eyes again. He saw a huge fortress filled with wolf demons. "Their in some kind of fortress" he said opening his eyes. "Did this fortress have a purple flag with a black crescent moon on it?" Riku asked. "Yes" Hiei answered. "That's the Dark Moon pack's fortress" Riku said through clenched teeth. Yukina gasped. "We'd better get there as fast as we can. For the rest of the trip we'll go nonstop until we reach the area around the fortress" he said walking out of the cave. The twins followed. "We'll come up with a plan along the way" he said scooping up Yukina. They started running toward the fortress at top speed. They'd better be in once piece Hiei thought angrily.

One and a half days later

Riku and Hiei had been traveling at top speed and were now only a few miles from the Dark Moon pack's fortress. They had eaten very little and Yukina had to eat what she had ready in her bag. "How much longer?" Hiei asked. "Just a few more minutes" Riku replied.

They continued and in only four minutes they saw the fortress up ahead. Riku set Yukina down for the first time in days. His eyes widened when she stretched. She was wearing an aqua t-shirt the exposed her belly when she stood up and a pair of blue shorts that went four inches above her knees. Riku and Hiei still had their usual outfits on. "All right now's the time" Riku whispered. He'd explained along the way they had to be careful when they were this close to the enemy stronghold. Yukina nodded and rummaged through her bag. She pulled out three Heart Fruits and gave one to each of them. They ate them and felt their strength return.

"Alright here's the plan. I'll wind morph and infiltrate the base. When I free the others I'll lead them to the flagpole. Hiei, you stay here and protect Yukina. When you see the flag lower you and Yukina infiltrate the base and find us. We may need your healing powers. Any questions?" Riku said. Hiei and Yukina shook their heads. "Good I'll see you guys inside" he said before wind morphing. Be careful Riku Yukina thought.

In his wind form, Riku easily got into the base. He went around the entire place until he saw the prison. He slid under the main door and went back to his normal form. He sniffed the air for any suspicious scents. He picked up the scent of three humans, a fox demon, and a ferry girl. That must be them. He wind morphed and made his was toward the smell. A few seconds later, he saw two elite guards in front of a cell. Man does their security suck he thought. He blew past them and gathered himself over them. "Did you feel a draft?" one of the guards asked. The other shrugged. Riku materialized over them. He fell to the ground unsheathing his sword and sliced one of the guards in half as he landed. "Intruder…" the other guard was silenced when Riku stabbed him.

To easy he thought as he searched the second guard. He found the keys in the left pocket. He inserted one of them into the keyhole. It fit and he turned it. The door creaked open and he walked in.

With the gang during the whole thing

Yusuke and the others weren't in very good shape at the moment. Kuwabara's arm was still healing, Yusuke had developed some bruised ribs, and Boton still had the mark where Sirus had scratched her. Kurama's wound had healed by now. They were given just enough food to survive but not satisfy their hunger. Keiko was starting to get sick and she was now asleep with her head on Yusuke's legs.

"They better not have touched Yukina or I'll kill all of them" Kuwabara said activating his sword. "Do you really think you can do anything with that arm? Besides knowing Hiei I'm sure Yukina's just fine" Yusuke said. Boton was snuggled with Kurama on the opposite side. "Have you ever heard of this Riku guy their with?" she asked her boyfriend. "No, but from the way Sirus reacted when his name was mentioned it's safe to say he's on our side" Kurama said looking up.

Suddenly they heard a sound from the other side of the door. "Intruder" they heard one of the guards yell before silence came back. They waited for a few minutes. The sound of the door unlocking range through the cell. The door creaked open.

In came a wolf demon wearing a red coat and holding a sword with fresh blood on it. "Who might you be?" Yusuke asked with Keiko clinging to him. Kurama was in a defensive stance in front of Boton. Kuwabara had his sword ready. "Don't worry I'm here to save you. The names Riku" the wolf replied. Everyone relaxed. "Come on, Hiei's waiting for the signal" he said heading out the door. When every one was out Riku tossed a Heart Fruit at each of them. They ate them and felt their strength return. Boton summoned her oar and hoped on it with Keiko. Riku started running toward the entrance with the team at his side.

"Would you like to do the honors" Riku said to Yusuke. "Be happy to" he replied. He stood in front of the doors as energy built up in his hand. "SHOTGUN" his attack blew the door down and crushed the guards in front of it. They all made their way to the flagpole. A siren ripped through the air as the alarm sounded. Waves of wolf demons charged at the escapers with various weapons. Riku sliced is way through their ranks while Yusuke, Kurama, and Kuwabara protected the girls.  When they reached the flagpole Riku chopped it down. They stood there fending off waves of attacks while they waited for Hiei and Yukina.

In the throne room

Sirus was enjoying a meal when the sirens went off. "My lord, Riku has broken the prisoners out" "Damit, that Riku is a crafty one. Seal all exits. No one is to get in or out understand" he ordered grabbing his katana. The guard bowed and ran out of the room. Sirus walked out followed by his best warriors. It's time to settle this Riku he thought.

With Hiei and Yukina

A wolf cried in agony as Hiei sliced it down. He and Yukina were making their way to the flagpole and were encountering heavy resistance. He looked over to see Yukina freezing some wolves that had tried an ambush. She had more skill with her ice powers now. "Lets hurry. I'm not sure they can hold out much longer" Yukina said running down the streets. Hiei ran after her.

At the flagpole

Where are those two Riku thought as he killed another adversary. So far he and the others were holding their own but he knew Sirus was on his way. He already heard of how the wolf defeated the gang so easily.

Suddenly, he picked up a familiar scent. He looked to the side as the attacking wolves stopped their attack. Some of them moved out of the way. From out of the crowd came Sirus. He smirked when he saw Riku. "So, we met again Riku. How's everything with your pack? I take it you had fun with those ravens I sent?" he said mockingly. "How dare you call yourself a wolf demon" Riku said with a red glint in his eyes. "If you have a problem with it then lets settle it with our swords" Sirus replied taking off his cape and unsheathing his sword. The two fighters stared each other down for a few minutes. They then charged each other.

Cliffhanger. Just had to leave you ready for a fight. Next chapter, the battle between Riku and Sirus. Please, please, please review.