Chapter 2: They Find Out

"Ok, so how am I going to get to Keiko?" Yusuke thought out loud as he sat down on his bed. He and Boton had gone back to his house to plan out the case.

"Well, you have to get to the top of Goddess Tower." Boton said.

"Goddess Tower? That's a lame name." Yusuke exclaimed. Boton ignored him.

"It will be similar to the saint beasts. One on every level."

"That's great. Five of them and one of me." he sighed. "How am I supposed to pull this off?" he stood up and paced his room, thinking. Boton just shrugged her shoulders. Finally, after A few seconds, Yusuke came to a brilliant idea.

* * * * *

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

"Kuwabara, its me! Open up!" Yusuke yelled.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Kuwabara shouted from inside. He opened the door and let Yusuke in.

"Urameshi, what are you doing here?"

"Kuwabara, I really need your help. 4 demons kidnapped Keiko and their going to kill her unless I stop them!" Yusuke said this all so fast, Kuwabara was confused.

"Slow down, Urameshi! I didn't understand a word you just said." Yusuke repeated himself. "So you want my help to get Keiko back?" Kuwabara asked.

"Yep." Yusuke said, out of breath.

"Hey where's Boton?" Kuwabara just noticed that she wasn't there.

"Oh, she's around, somewhere."

* * * * *

"Hiei, are you sure you don't want to come with me?" Kurama asked. He and Hiei were at their home in the Makai Spirit World. Kurama was trying to get Hiei to visit his mother with him.

"I'm sure. I just want to stay home. You know I don't like humans." Hiei replied. He sat down on the edge of the bed.

"I know, but I just want you to come along. Please!" Kurama pleaded. He sat down on the bed.

"No!"

"Please!"

"No!"

"Please!"

"ALRIGHT!!!!" Hiei had enough of Kurama's begging.

"Thank you." Kurama leaned forward, getting ready to kiss Hiei. I'll be nice, Hiei thought, and he leaned towards Kurama. Their lips were barely touching when…

"Kurama! Hiei!" a familiar voice came calling.

"Huh?" Kurama said, and sat straight up. Hiei fell flat on his face.

"So much for trying to be nice." Hiei muttered as he stood up and dusted himself off. Suddenly there came a knocking at the door. Kurama answered it.

"Oh Kurama, glad to catch you at home. Can I come in?" Boton said.

"Sure" Kurama replied, letting her in. then he sat on the couch and Boton sat in a chair opposite him.

"What is it Boton?" Kurama asked.

"Is Hiei here? He better get out here." Boton said. Kurama called to Hiei. Hiei walked out of the bedroom and sat on the couch next to Kurama, then put his feet up on the coffee table. Even though they lived in the spirit world, their house looked remarkably normal.

"Have either of you two heard of The Goddesses?" Boton asked.

"The Goddesses? You mean that weird group of demons in Goddess Tower?" Hiei replied.

"Bingo. Yusuke next case is to stop the demons before they kill another human." Boton explained. "the only problem is, Keiko has been kidnapped by them. Yusuke will need your support and help to get through this."

"I don't like the sound of this. Why would they kidnap a human for no reason?" Kurama said.

"I never really considered that." Boton admitted.

"I'll help. What about you Hiei?"

"Count me out. Yusuke can handle this one alone." Hiei replied.

"Hiei!!!" Kurama exclaimed.

"Alright, already! I'll help! Just don't yell at me anymore today." Hiei said.

"Good." Kurama said. Hiei got up and went to the kitchen to make something to eat.

"Kurama, this is probably none of my business, but why do you and Hiei live together?" Boton asked suddenly.

"Well, Hiei doesn't want me to tell you or anyone this…" Hiei was listening at the door, "… But we're together." Kurama answered.

I can't believe he went against our promise, Hiei thought. No matter. I'll deal with him later.

"Your together? I don't - oh." Boton realized. "I get it now. How long?"

"A long time." Kurama answered.

"Well, I - I really don't know what to say." Boton admitted.

"just act normal around Hiei, and don't tell the others. Please." Kurama said.

"Don't worry, I wont." Boton replied. Just then Hiei walked back in the room.

"So, where are we supposed to meet Yusuke?" he asked.

"You will meet Yusuke and Kuwabara -" Boton started, but was cut off by Hiei.

"Why Kuwabara? He's just dead weight." Hiei complained. Boton ignored him and raised her voice a little.

"You will meet Yusuke and Kuwabara about 200 yards from the tower. that's as close as I can get them."

"Fine. We will be there in about ten minutes." Kurama said.

"Looks like the visit to your mothers is cancelled." Hiei said with a smirk.

"Shut up, Hiei." Kurama scowled.

"Well, I better go and tell Yusuke that he has more help." Boton said, standing up. They all said goodbye, and Boton left.

"Now that she's gone, I have to ask you something." Hiei said to Kurama. "Do you know what a promise is?"

"I'm sorry Hiei. But we can trust her. She wont tell." Kurama answered. The argument continued for a few more minutes, on their way to meet Yusuke and Kuwabara.

* * * * *

"Thank you, Kuwabara." Yusuke said. "Now all we have to do is wait for Boton to get back to tell us what to do." they waited. Yusuke gave Kuwabara the details of the case. In a few minutes, Boton arrived.

"Ok Yusuke. Kurama is going to help." she pulled Yusuke away for a minute. "Just don't tell Kuwabara that Hiei is helping."

"Sure." Yusuke replied.

"Ok guys, I can get us within 200 yards of the tower. Kurama should be waiting for us." she created a passage to spirit world on the floor, and push them through. Then she jumped through herself.

The three landed hard on a dirt road. They walked a short distance and spotted Kurama, Hiei, and Yukina. They ran to meet them.

"Hey! No one told me half pint was coming!" Kuwabara exclaimed when he saw Hiei.

"I wasn't to thrilled when I heard you were tagging along." Hiei admitted.

"Why is Yukina here?" Yusuke asked Kurama.

"I thought we could use a little help. I didn't think Boton was coming along." Kurama said.

"Kuwabara better stay here. He might get hurt." Hiei taunted.

"Why I outta…" Kuwabara pulled out his spirit sword.

"You want a fight? You got one." Hiei said and pulled out his sword. They were facing each other, getting ready to charge, when Kurama ran in between them.

"Get out of the way, Kurama!" Kuwabara warned.

"No. you guys don't want to get hurt to soon. We'll need all the strength we can get." Kurama replied.

"He's right boys." Boton said. Both boys put their weapons away.

"Thank you guys." Kurama said.

"Shut up Kurama. I'm still mad at you." Hiei snapped.

"Why is he upset?" Yusuke asked.

"Oh its nothing, really." Kurama tried to convince Yusuke, but Hiei's ranting told Yusuke it was something big. Hiei was usually a very down to earth guy.

"why not just tell them. You told Boton. What's a few more people?" Hiei shouted.

"Now Hiei, calm down -" Kurama started, but Hiei wasn't finished.

"I will not calm down. You were supposed to keep your trap shut. Now you might as well tell the whole world."

"Boton, do you know what they are talking about?" Yusuke asked.

"I - I'm not allowed to say." she said, and looked away.

"I am getting real tired of being left out." Yusuke said. "what is it?"

"Like, I said it's nothing." Kurama half shouted.

"Just tell them already!!" Hiei said. " they'll find out sooner or later." Hiei was still muttering when Kurama walked over to the other four.

"Boton already knows this. Were gay. And were together." he said. Yukina and Yusuke gasped, but Kuwabara just laughed.

"Oh, that's a good one. What is it really?"

"You don't believe me?" Kurama asked. He walked over to Hiei. Hiei was still muttering, but instantly shut up. Kurama had grabbed him and kissed him. They stayed like that for 5 minutes. During that time, Kuwabara spoke up.

"I think he was telling the truth."

"Yeah, no kidding." Yusuke muttered.

When Hiei and Kurama pulled apart, they were out of breath. Kuwabara was speechless, but Yusuke was cool about it.

"You guys are weird. I knew there was something wrong with you two." Kuwabara exclaimed, finally.

"Well I don't think so. They are how they are." Yusuke said.

"I'm with Yusuke. Hiei is my brother. If he's happy, I'm happy." Yukina said.

"You guys are ok with it?" Hiei asked

"Of course. We're friends. Well, at least me and you are." Yusuke said. "You never did get along with Kuwabara, so that shouldn't make any difference."

"We're wasting time. Come on. We'd better get going." Kurama said. As they walked to the tower, Hiei began talking to Yusuke.

"If Kuwabara lives through this, remind me to kill him."

"Again?!?" Yusuke exclaimed. They walked in silence for the rest of the way. Up close, the tower looked worse than it sounded. It was the stupidest thing Yusuke had ever seen. Four terraces hung on one side of the tower. Each terrace held the markings of the Goddess on it. The first terrace had what looked like a very strong wind around it - Kyotaro. The second had deadly creatures on it - mostly snakes. That must be Sephina. The third had lightning striking it - Masaya. The fourth had a waterfall falling off the side. That was kiyoko. The roof looked like a lookout tower from an old castle. It was flat with bricks coming off the floor around the edges. The only thing it didn't have in common with a castle, was that it was on fire. Yorouki, the leader. That was where Keiko must be.

The group slowly walked inside. The first room they entered looked clear. There was a staircase on the other side of the room. They took a few steps, and were pushed back by a strong wind. They stepped back, and the wind stopped.

"What was that?" Yusuke exclaimed.

"I've heard of this." Kurama said. "Other demons who escaped call this 'wind room'. the floor is pressurized. Certain pressure points will activate the wind… if your lucky. No one has survived long enough to tell what else is in here." Kuwabara walked forward. He stood still for a minute, and took 3 leaps. He was across.

"How did you do that?" Yusuke asked, amazed.

"Spirit awareness, duh. I could sense the pressure points." he replied. Kuwabara leapt back to the others. "Just keep to the same spots as me." and he directed the group across.

They walked up the stairs on the other side of the room slowly.

We must be getting close, Kurama thought. I can sense the first demon. We're almost there.

The six came to another door. When they opened it, there was just enough light from the moon to see. They were being pushed back by strong gusts of wind.

"How did it get dark so fast?" Yusuke exclaimed.

"Time goes faster here than in living world." Boton explained.

"so, where are we now?" Kuwabara asked. Kurama answered quickly.

"The first terrace."

_____________________________________________________________

Here is Chapter 2, as promised. Please send me reviews, and I'll post Chapter 3 soon. Thanks!