Chapter 73

Shipwrecked

Yukina looked franticly for any signs of her mate. Sadly, she could see no trace of Riku. "Riku, please don't die" Yukina said as tears rolled down her cheeks. The past two months with Riku had been the best of her life and now it had all been ended in a split second. She collapsed against the railing as she broke down crying. "Why, why did this have to happen?" she sobbed.

Botan, Keiko, Kairi, and Crystal arrived on the scene. "Yukina!!!" Keiko said when she saw the koorime. The girls rushed to her side. "What's wrong? Where's Riku?" Crystal asked. At hearing his name Yukina cried even harder. Now the girls knew something was very wrong.

Having sensed his sister's sadness, Hiei arrived with Nami close behind him. He pushed past the girls and placed his hands on Yukina's shoulders. "Yukina, what happened?" he asked. Yukina looked at him her vision blurred by her tears. "Riku…he…he" she looked to the spot he fell overboard. Hiei immediately knew what she meant and hugged her. He let her cry on his chest while he gently rubbed her back. "I'm sorry Yukina" he said gently.

When she had calmed down a little he lifted her in his arms and took off to the cabin she and Riku shared. The girls followed close behind.

Muraku was disturbed from his sleep when the smell of Yukina's tears reached his nose. He kicked the sleeping kitsune on the deck chair next to him causing Kurama to fall off. "What was that for?" Kurama said as he rubbed his side. "Shut up and come on" Muraku replied as he followed everyone's scents. Kurama got to his feet and ran to catch up with the wolf.

Hiei placed his sister on the bed. Her eyes were now red and puffy from the crying she had done. Hiei made a mental note to hurt all the people who took the tear gems she left behind. "Yukina" Hiei said as she looked up at him. "What happened?" he asked. Only Kairi had noticed Muraku and Kurama arriving. "We were attacked by a snake demon. He…he was after Muraku and thought Riku was him. They fought and they both…they both…fell off the ship" Yukina said as new tears formed. Crystal joined them on the bed and hugged her sister-in-law.

Kairi looked to the entrance and noticed Muraku was nowhere to be found. She slipped out to go find him.

Muraku had arrived at the place the battle took place. He could smell fresh blood and recognized the scent. So I missed one. Damn him Muraku thought. His main goal in life was to fight Riku again. Now that he was gone Muraku would never fulfill that need. Riku, if your dead I'm coming to Spirit World to kick your ass Muraku thought.

"Muraku" Kairi said as she walked to him. "What is it?" Muraku asked. She hesitated when she saw the anger in his eye. "It was one of the snakes, wasn't it?" she said. Muraku nodded. "I'd better find to twins. You should go find Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Shizuru" she said. Muraku flitted off to find them. Kairi sighed and looked at the ocean. Please be alive she wished.

Somewhere miles from the ship a few hours later

Riku finally regained consciousness though he couldn't open his eyes. What happened? He thought. Images of the fight played through his mind. That's right, I fell overboard he thought. He realized he was lying on something really soft. Since when did the ocean fell so good? He thought. He opened his eyes but closed them when the light hit. He growled and opened them again. It took time to focus but he could clearly see a blue marble ceiling over him.

He opened them all the way and realized he was in a bed. "Where am I?" he said out loud. "Your finally awake" a voice said from next to him. He looked to the side and saw a familiar girl seated next to the bed. She was around 6 feet tall with black hair with blue streaks that reached down to her but and was tied into a ponytail and light blue eyes. She wore navy blue jeans with blue dragons embroidered on them, a light blue shirt, and bracelets on each wrist. But even though she was wearing something different Riku still recognized her. Mizu!!!

It was the water goddess he'd seen during his trip with Gurumin to the past. The one that fought with the Rebel Forces against the Black Legion. He then noticed a small dragon with blue scales and golden eyes perched on her shoulder.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" she asked. She was hiding her shock of seeing an exact duplicate of Ryu. "You're Mizu aren't you?" Riku asked. "How did you know?" she asked. Didn't Ryu die two thousand years ago? She thought. "Well, you wouldn't believe me if I told you" Riku said as he sat up. He instantly regretted it when sharp pain ripped through his body and caused him to fall back in bed. "Don't sit up, your wounds haven't had time to heal" she said. "Where am I?" Riku asked. "I'll explain everything later. Right now you need rest" Mizu replied. Riku wanted to protest but he was very tired at the moment so he decided to do as she said. He closed his eyes and quickly went to sleep.

Mizu stared at him as he slept. No way this guy is Ryu. But then again, how does he know my name? She thought. She looked at the dragon on her shoulder. "What do you think Genso?" she asked. The little dragon growled a reply.

"So how is he?" a voice said from the door. Mizu looked over at the newcomer. He was 5'9 in height with long spiky black hair that reached mid-back and black eyes. He wore a red shirt with a black jacket and jeans. A katana was strapped to the left side of his waist and a gun (That looks like Vash's from Trigun) was strapped to his right.

"He'll live Shiro" Mizu replied. "Good" Shiro replied as he leaned against the doorframe. "So has she arrived yet?" Mizu asked. "You know her. Always late to important things" Shiro replied.

"Oh really?" a girls voice said from behind. He looked to his side and saw a girl about 5'5 in height with lone sliver hair and lavender eyes. She looked very young even though she was wearing assassin armor. On her hips were a 44 Magnum, an Excalibur type sword, and a dagger strapped to her boot.

"Your late Aurora" Shiro said. Aurora shrugged. "So that's him" she said pointing at Riku. "That's not Ryu but he does look like him" Shiro replied. "I think we should leave him for now" Mizu said as she walked to them. "Yea, we'll have some explaining to do when he wakes up" Aurora said. The other two nodded and the three walked off.

A few hours later

Riku opened his eyes and looked at the bed he was in. So it wasn't a bad dream he thought. He slowly sat up but the pain had greatly subsided. He got out and noticed some new cloths draped on a nearby chair. He walked to them and picked them up. They'll have to do he thought as he put them on. The outfit consisted of a red long-sleeved gi with red pants and black boots. Not bad he thought.

He heard something at the door and looked over to see Mizu walk in with a tray of food in her hands. A young girl followed her with more bandages and other supplies. "I'm glad to se your up and walking" Mizu said with a smile. "You shouldn't be walking so soon. Your body still needs to heal" Aurora said. "I think I know what my body can handle miss…" Riku said. "Aurora" she replied.

"Sit down, we'll explain everything while you eat" Mizu said. Riku obeyed and sat on the bed. Mizu handed him the tray. He thanked her and started eating. "What's our name?" Aurora asked. "Riku" he replied before taking another bite. "So how did I end up here?" he asked. "We can thank Genso for that" Mizu said as she pat her dragon's head. "Explain?" Riku said. "Well it all happened earlier today" Mizu said.

Flashback

Mizu giggled as she watched Genso try to catch the fish in the shallows. "I keep telling you those fish are abnormally smart" she said. Genso continued to try. Mizu sighed and looked at the ocean as the wind blew her hair. I never tire of the ocean she thought.

She then heard Genso let out a roar. She looked to where the dragon was and saw him next to something washed up on shore. She ran to where the dragon was. As she got closer she realized the object was a person. She quickened her pace and reached them. The person was face down and wore a red trench coat. She flipped him on his back and gasped. Ryu?! She thought. But after looking closer she could see a slight difference. This guy's featured seemed softer than Ryu's. Ryu had been hardened by years of all out war with the Demon King. The guy also looked younger and not quite as powerful.

"Go get Shiro" she said. Genso nodded and took to the air. Mizu gently lifter the Ryu look-alike and hurried inland.

End Flashback

"And that's what happened. I took you here and we helped heal you" she said. Riku took it all in. "So I'm shipwrecked" he sad. "Where did you come from?" Mizu asked. "My friends and I were on a cruise ship heading for the Demon King's Tournament when my mate and I were ambushed by a snake demon. We both fell overboard and here I am" Riku said. "Your going to the tournament?" Aurora asked. "Well being the Devil Wolf does have its downsides" Riku replied. "WHAT!!!" Mizu yelled. "Ow" Riku said as he rubbed his ears.

"You're the Devil Wolf?!" Mizu said. "Uh, yea" Riku replied. "Do you know anyone by the name of Ryu?" Mizu asked. "No, he's my ancestor. I'm his reincarnation or so everyone says" Riku replied. That explains it Mizu thought. "Why? Is something wrong with that?" Riku asked. "No, nothing at all" Mizu said. Better tell Shiro this she thought.

"Where are we anyway?" Riku asked. "It's an island in the Pacific. You haven't heard of it, it's been kept well hidden" Mizu replied. "What are you doing out here?" Riku asked. "We were assigned here" Shiro said from the door. "Shiro I take it" Riku said. Shiro nodded.

"On this island is a portal to the Demon World. Ryu ordered us to guard it after the war. Myself and Shiro have watched over it with our army. Aurora here arrived four years ago" Mizu said. "Mizu's priestesses have sealed the portal though we know they can still get through" Shiro said. "Who's they?" Riku asked. "The Black Legion" Aurora replied. "Yes, the Black Legion has tried my times to get through but we've managed to stop them. There's only been one real threat" Mizu said. "What?" Riku asked. "Kane" Shiro said. "He routinely comes through the portal for 'fun' as he calls it" Mizu said.

"We've lost many by his hands" Shiro said. "So you guys have been here for three thousand years?" Riku said. Mizu and Shiro nodded. "It hasn't been easy but we've managed" Mizu said.

"So tell us a little about yourself" Shiro said. "Well I have a twin brother, a younger sister, an adopted sister, and a baby brother. My mate is a koorime named Yukina. I work for Koenma. My friends are Yusuke Urameshi, Hiei, Kazuma Kuwabara, Kurama, Nami, and Botan. I had a dark side named Muraku who's been revived only good. He's made some friends. Oh yea, and we've made peace with the Night Shadow Clan and made Ace run off screaming for his mommy" Riku replied.

"You beat the Night Shadow Clan?" Mizu said. "And Ace!!!" Aurora said. "Well we fought them but the ninjas turned out okay and Ace left before we could get him. Though Muraku gave him a good beating before that happened" Riku replied. He told them everything else about his life.  

Just then an explosion ripped through the air. "What was that?" Riku asked. A soldier ran into the room. "Sorry to interrupt, but we're under attack" he said. "Bu who?" Shiro asked. "Kane" the soldier replied. Shiro growled. "Come on you two" he said to Mizu and Aurora. "You ready?" Mizu asked Genso. Genso hissed in anticipation.

"Wait" Riku said. "What?" Shiro replied. "Where's my sword?" Riku asked. "Why would you need to know?" Shiro asked. "Don't play dumb" Riku said. "I can't let you fight him" he said. "I'll fight him eventually. Besides, if I kill him know it might be safer for my friends and I at the tournament" Riku replied. Another reason is one less Apocalypse Ten to worry about would allow him to concentrate on finding Murakai's killer.

"You're sue you want to fight?" Mizu asked. Riku nodded. "Over there" Aurora said pointing to the sword leaning against the wall. Riku walked over to it and unsheathed it. "The Crescent Edge!!!" Mizu said. "It's been passed down my family. I can feel its anticipation. It wants another crack at Kane" Riku said. The four ran out toward the explosions.

They stopped when a tall swirling vortex could be seen in the distance. "That's the portal" Shiro said. "Look" Aurora said pointing to the east. They all looked and saw Kane hacking his way through the rebel troops. "Let's go" Shiro said as he, Mizu, and Aurora charged. Riku looked at the sword in his hand. "The others will have to wait. I have to help these guys first" he said. With new determination he ran at top speed to the battle.

Told you he wasn't dead. And I've fulfilled my promise of bringing Mizu and Shiro back. Both were in the time travel scene. Next chapter should be up on Sunday.

Aurora was created by Jewel Saync

Mizu was created by Sweetangel

Shiro was created by heatwave.

Next chapter, the battle against Kane. Review please.