Chapter 62
Bait
Two weeks have passed since the big battle with the Night Shadow clan. Nothing has changed with the gang except Hiei is now taking motorcycle-riding lessons from Riku. At this moment Riku, Yukina, Nami, Crystal, and Kuwabara are all at Genkai's watching Hiei ride. Yusuke and Keiko have gone to a museum for a school project. Well, actually Keiko dragged Yusuke to the museum cursing like there's no tomorrow.
Botan put the final touches on her makeup. She'd spent the past few hours getting ready for another date with Kurama. She heard the doorbell ring. She ran to the door and opened it. She was greeted with Kurama's smiling face. He was wearing a white button-up shirt, jeans, and a pair of white tennis shoes. "Your early" Botan said as she kissed him. "Well since Hiei's distracted at the moment I don't have to spend time tying to keep him and Nami out of trouble" Kurama said after they broke. "Just let me finish up and we can go" she replied as she let him in her apartment (Yes she lives in an apartment). She ran to her room and Kurama sat down on the couch to wait.
A few minutes later she came back out with a new outfit. She now wore a red t-shirt, a pair of whiter shorts that went four inches over he knees, and a pair of white platform shoes. "Let's go" she said cheerfully. Kurama nodded and followed her out the door.
They held each other's hands as they walked down the street. This earned Botan glares from Kurama's fan club who were tailing him. Kurama further infuriated them by looping his arm around Botan's waist.
They headed for the movie theater and after scaring Botan half to death by watching House of the Dead came back out. "That movie scared me" Botan said. "Well it least I was there to protect you" Kurama joked. Botan smiled. They started walking through the town visiting a few stores here and there.
Botan was looking at a pair of shoes behind a window when something surprising happened. "Well, well look who we've run into" a familiar voice said. Kurama and Botan turned around and saw non-other than Draco and Lita. Draco was wearing a black t-shirt with the words 'What're YOU looking at' written on it, a pair of blue jeans with a Chinese dragon embroidered on the left pant leg, and a pair of white Nikes. Lita was wearing a white tube top, tight black short-shorts, black fingerless gloves, and knee-high black boots.
"Well this is unexpected" Botan said. "What are two ninja's doing around here?" Kurama asked. "To put it simply, we're shopping for wedding gifts" Draco said. "Wedding?" Botan said. "Yea, Azeri has an older sister named Serena and she's engaged to Shade" Lita replied. "That's surprising" Botan said. "It's no surprise at all considering how cute Shade is" Lita said. "What was that?" Draco said. "Aw don't be jealous. Your still my number one dragon" Lita said before kissing his cheek.
"Care to join us?" Kurama asked. "I don't see why not" Draco said. The four continued walking down the street telling each other how life's been.
"Something's been bugging me since the battle" Draco said. "What?" Kurama asked. "Well me and Lita got our asses kicked by some guy who appeared out of nowhere" Draco replied. "Who?" Botan asked. "I never got his name but he looked a lot like Riku except he was wearing a purple trench coat and was a lot meaner" Draco said. Kurama looked at Botan whose expression had saddened. "The one you fought was named Muraku. He was once Riku's dark side but Koenma had him revived for some reason" Kurama said. "You sound angry" Draco said. "You'd be to if you had to think of the guy who rapped your girlfriend" Kurama said. The two ninja's gasped. "You mean to tell me he…" Lita didn't have to finish cause Botan nodded solemnly. Kurama put a comforting arm around her.
Botan always was like this whenever Muraku was mentioned. Kurama swore that no matter how much Muraku changed or how highly Kairi spoke of the wolf he would never forgive Muraku for what he did to Botan.
"I'm starving" Lita said trying to change the subject. "We haven't eaten since we left the temple" Draco said. "What sounds good to you?" Kurama asked. "Hm, how bout ice cream" Draco said. "You read my mind" Lita said. "I know a good ice cream vender in the park. Let's head there" Kurama said. The two ninja's nodded and started to walk off.
Kurama turned to Botan. He walked to her, placed a finger under her chin, and made her look at him. "Will you be alright?" he asked. "Yes, don't worry Kurama" Botan said wiping away the tears forming in her eyes. "We'd better catch up to them" she said cheerfully. Kurama smiled and kissed her lips before they set off toward the park.
When they arrived they quickly found the vender. "You two wait here while we get the ice cream" Kurama said. "I'll have strawberry" Botan said. "Rocky Road" Lita said. The guys nodded and headed for the vender. The two girls took a seat on a nearby bench.
"So you two are together now?" Botan asked Lita. Lita blushed and nodded. "When did it start?" Botan asked. "After the battle. I found out I had feelings for him after he saved me from Muraku. Oops sorry" she said. "What did he do to you?" Botan asked. "Basically he pounded me into the ground. Draco came and saved me but he wasn't able to beat him. He even transformed and still wasn't enough. The only reason we're still alive is because something happened to that guy" Lita replied. "What do you mean, happened?" Botan asked. "One second he was going to finish Draco off. The next he was screaming in pain and clutching the area over his heart. We escaped after he fell to the ground" Lita said. Botan looked at her with a puzzled look. The thought of Muraku just falling to the ground just didn't seem like him.
She sighed and looked around. The park was her favorite place to calm her nerves and forget about her problems. I wonder what's taking those two so long she thought.
"Hey Lita, why don't we…" she stopped mid-sentence when she saw Lita was hunched over. "Lita" Botan said as she reached out and touched her shoulder. The tiger hanyou fell to the side and that's when Botan saw it. A dart was embedded in the banc of Lita's neck. Before she could do anything else a cloth covered hand covered her mouth. She put up little struggle before her world went black.
Kurama and Draco returned with the ice cream in hand. Draco froze when he saw Lita lying motionless on the bench. "Lita" he said dropping the ice cream and rushing toward her. Her cradled her in his arms as he tried to wake her up. "Lita, Lita, speak to me" Draco said. "What's this?" Kurama said reaching behind her neck and pulling out the dart. He sniffed it. "Sleeping potion. She'll be fine. The effect will wear off in a few hours" he said standing up. Right now the only thing on his mind was figuring out where Botan was. He looked around and noticed a slip of paper on the bench. He picked it up and opened it.
"What is it?" Draco asked. "A note" Kurama replied. The note read:
Kurama,
I have your woman. If you wish to get her back come and get her. But don't bring any of your spirit detective friends. To find her simply follow the falcon.
There was no name on the note. Kurama wondered what the last sentenced meant. Follow the falcon? He thought. He then heard a strange bird call coming from nearby. He looked to the source and saw a black falcon perched in a nearby tree. It was looking right at him. It suddenly spread its wings and took off. "Draco you should get her back to your clan" Kurama said before running after the falcon. "But what about you?" Draco questioned but the fox was to far away to hear it. "Good luck Kurama" Draco said.
With Botan
Botan groaned as her eyes fluttered open. Where am I? She thought as she looked around. She looked around a gasped. On the walls of the room she was in were the heads of various demons. A few stood like statues. She then realized her hands were chained above her head. She struggled for a few minutes before giving up.
"How do like my collection?" a cold voice said. "Who's there?" Botan asked. A figure jumped in front of her. The one before her was wearing a clock with a hood that hid most of his face while the cloak concealed his body. "Who are you?" Botan asked.
"My name it Saber" he replied. "What do you want?" Botan asked. "Kurama" he replied. "Why?" she asked again. "You ask to many questions wench but if you must know it's because of my occupation. I'm a demon hunter. I've spent my entire life hunting and killing the most vicious of demons. Many years ago my target was Yoko. He eluded me for years but I finally found an opportunity to kill him. But before I could act another hunter got to him first. He is the only one I've ever hunted and not killed but that's all going to change today" he replied. "He's not Yoko anymore" Botan said. "He may change on the outside but he'll always have Yoko inside him" Saber replied. "What do you want with me?" she asked.
"Foxes are among the most difficult pre to catch. They are very crafty and know how to get out of most situations. But if one has the right bait then they'll come running right into your hands" he said. "You mean I'm only bait" Botan said. Saber nodded. "He'll be here in a few hours if he can keep up with my falcon" he said before turning and walking out of the room.
With Kurama
Kurama had been running at top speed trying to keep up with the falcon for the past hour. The only thing keeping him from passing out from exhaustion was his will to get Botan back.
He skidded to a halt as a blast exploded in front of him. He looked to the source. Standing there were about a dozen snake demons. "Looks like we'll be having kitsune for dinner tonight" the leader said. Kurama grabbed onto his rose and readied his whip. The snakes lunged toward him.
He jumped back and swung killing two but they continued their assault. Kurama narrowly avoided their sharp claws and fangs. I don't have time for this he thought. The snakes leaped into the air to attack.
"IVY WHIPLASH" a green whip sliced the snakes to pieces. Kurama heard the bushes rustle and looked at the source. Standing there was the green haired kitsune Damien. "Damien?" Kurama said. "Kurama?" Damien replied.
"What are you doing here?" Kurama asked. "Basically I'm after this demon hunter that's been causing problems back home. He almost killed my mate. And what are you doing here?" Damien replied. "Someone kidnapped Botan and I'm going to get her back" Kurama replied. "Sounds to me like we're after the same guy" Damien said.
They failed to notice a snake demon rise from the ground. Damien had missed him and he'd been playing possum. "Now you die!!!" he yelled as he jumped into the air. Kurama and Damien turned around to see it approach them.
Just before it reached them the sound of a gun being fired ripped through the forest. The snake fell to its side dead. "I told you to watch your back better man" a voice said.
Out of the woods walked another wolf demon. He was dressed in a tight white shirt, black, white, and gray camo pants, and a leather jacket. He had tan skin a bit darker than Riku's, black hair done in a high ponytail, and deep brown eyes. A black wolf tail swished behind him. In his right hand was a shotgun.
"I was wondering when you'd catch up" Damien said. "Hey I had some business to take care of" the wolf replied with a Latino accent. "You were hitting on some twins" Damien replied. "He what can I say, the chicas couldn't get enough of me" the wolf replied.
"Uh who are you?" Kurama asked. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ricardo Garcia" he replied taking a bow. "Ricardo here is a southwestern wolf demon thus the accent" Damien said. "What's he doing here?" Kurama asked. "I needed some back up and he was looking for some action" Damien replied. "Plus I heard the senoritas here were choice" Ricardo said.
"As entertaining as all this is I have to catch up to that falcon" Kurama said. "No problemo man. Just wait here" Ricardo said before running back into the forest. Kurama and Damien stood in silence as they waited.
The sound of a car's engine could be heard approaching them. Suddenly the bushes part and a car zoomed into the scene. It was a black Mustang with yellow flames painted on the hood. Ricardo was behind the wheel. "Hey muchacos hop in" he said. Damien shook his head and got into the car. Kurama followed suit. They sat down on the back seats since Ricardo had left some nachos on the passengers seat.
"Okay strap in and prepare for the ride of your lives" Ricardo said before slamming his foot on the accelerator. A huge cloud of dust was kicked into the air as the car took off. Kurama and Damien were both getting very nervous as the cars speed increased. Kurama was thankful they finally reached an abandoned road. "Does he know where he's going?" he asked. "We know where the guy's hideout is" Damien replied.
They continued to zoom on the road until something caught Ricardo's eye. He slammed on the brakes and the car skidded to a halt. Kurama and Damien were jolted in their seats. They both realized Ricardo was nowhere to be seen. "Not again" Damien said as he slapped his forehead. Kurama looked out the window and saw Ricardo outside leaning against the door of a car with four girls in it.
"So what are you ladies doing out here all alone?" Ricardo asked causing the girls to giggle. Kurama and Damien anime fell. "Is he always like this?" Kurama asked. Damien nodded. He got out of the car and literally dragged Ricardo back. "Hey what are you doing? The ladies said they were lonely" the wolf said. "You'll have plenty of time for that later. Right now we have a mission to finish" Damien said. "Don't worry ladies, I'll be back" Ricardo said before getting behind the wheel again. They once again sped down the road.
"You foxes don't know how to have fun" Ricardo whined. "Can we speed up? I want to get to Botan as soon as possible" Kurama said. Ricardo's lips curved up into a smirk. "Whatever you say man" he said. His foot slammed onto the accelerator and the two foxes were pressed further into their seats. "How bout a few tunes to pass the time?" Ricardo said as he turned on the radio. The road was now curving from left to right and the car skidded as Ricardo continued to make the turners at high speed.
Kurama and Damien were hugging each other in fear as the car reached speeds of over a hundred miles per hour. "Ricardo slow down" Damien said. "Hey your friend asked me to speed up" the wolf replied. "I take it back, slow down" Kurama said. "Sorry I'm feeling the need for speed right now" Ricardo said, as he pressed harder on the pedal.
They soon were approaching a small island surrounded by water. The only way to get to it was a bridge that had collapsed in the middle. "The bridge is out stop already!!!" Kurama yelled. "Time to test the upgrades I made to the nitrous system" Ricardo said. "Nitrous system?" Kurama and Damien said at the same time. Ricardo pressed a red button on the steering wheel and the car went even faster. Kurama and Damien screamed as they approached the gap in the bridge. "I live for this stuff" Ricardo said as they flew over the gap.
They landed on the other said and made their way to the end of the bridge. By now Damien's face was as green as his hair and so was Kurama's. Ricardo slammed on the brakes causing the car to spin before stopping. "That wasn't so bad was it?" Ricardo said.
Kurama and Damien jumped out of the car, ran to some nearby bushes, and threw up. "You kitsunes are such wimps" Ricardo said as he got out of the car and headed for the trunk. He pulled out a Tompson sub-machinegun with a round magazine. "A little old fashioned don't you think?" Kurama asked. "You diss Tommy here you diss me got it" Ricardo said shaking the end off the barely in front of Kurama's face. "I'm sorry" Kurama said holding up his hands. Ricardo snorted and started strapping extra magazines inside his jacket.
"You two ready" Ricardo said. Kurama got his Rose Whip out and Damien prepared his Ivy Whip. "He's just through this forest" Damien said as they started walking. I'm coming Botan Kurama thought.
Looks like Kurama's got some back up. Next chapter, Kurama, Damien, and Ricardo try to survive Saber and his traps as they search for Botan. Review please.
