Author's Note: Holy freaking cow! I've updated at long last. (and everyone rejoices) LOL. No, I'm not really expecting rejoicing, but anyway...
I've just watched episodes #83 and #84, and lets just say I have a newfound respect (and fear) for/of Kurama. Who the hell expected that? I don't know. Pretty wicked though. I have Inuness to thank dearly for lending me her DVD though. (Hugs Inuness)
This one is for you, dear. Hope it's to your liking.
On with the show, then!
Somehow, and Yusuke wasn't quite sure exactly how, they made it out of the dark and damp dungeons of Imashirou's lair. Kuwabara was still slightly scarred from his mouse encounter, Kurama was fighting to keep silent from giggle fits (Kuwabara was being a wuss about the situation), Yusuke was gritting his teeth against punching...well, anyone, and Kigeko was about to go postal and kill all of them she could reach.
The first floor, or the main floor, was void of life. All life. Nothing but barren stone and filthy walls could be seen stretching from one end of the place to another.
"Well, for a Warlord, he sure doesn't keep house too well." Commented Yusuke with a raised eyebrow.
Kurama, nodding, stepped up to Yusuke's side. Kuwabara and Kigeko took up the rear of the group, their own eyes casting from left to right in a manner of deep suspicion.
"Well, now what?" asked Kuwabara. Yusuke sighed. Turning his head, he shot a sarcastic grin in his buddy's direction and gave him a thumbs up.
"Why don't you shove your head up your ass, run around in circles while screaming 'I'm a monkey!' really loud while beating on your chest. Maybe that will get this guy's attention."
Kigeko strained herself really hard to not laugh.
Angered, Kuwabara was ready to bring about a verbal retaliation when Kurama silenced them. In one fluid motion they stepped to the sides of the hall, hiding behind the giant stone pillars that littered the otherwise clear surroundings. Each watched in interest at the staircase as a cascading assortment of shadows fell down upon the floor. First came the familiar face of Yukina. This caused Kuwabara, Kurama, and Yusuke to gasp. Next followed a man that Yusuke could only guess was Imashirou (the smug look on his face helped a great deal), and in his arms was a limp brunette with a face that was the epitome of innocence.
Yusuke was suddenly, and angrily, reminded of Keiko.
"Bastard," he grumbled. "Why is he doing this?"
"He's nothing more than a monster, Yusuke." whispered Kurama sternly. It was clear that he too was angered by the fact that this man had taken Yukina. Silently, he wondered if Hiei was aware of this. The fire demon was particularly protective of his sister, and this would surely not sit well with him.
"I'll kill him." Whispered Kuwabara. Kurama frowned.
"Patience, Kuwabara. We must wait to strike. We still need to find Hiei and Inuyasha before we do anything else. "
His face reddened, but Kuwabara obeyed the orders.
When they were certain they were now alone, the four ran swiftly up the stairs and to the first floor, passing several doors on their way there. Kurama, who was in the lead, suddenly stopped as they reached a stairwell leading up.
"What is it?" Kigeko asked, looking behind them in fear that they were being followed.
"A scent," he stated, turning his head around in all different directions. "Inuyasha is on this floor."
Yusuke straightened up. "Where?"
Kurama looked around, his brow furrowed and his green eyes darting around in an intense search and find. He could not quite pinpoint the scent. It seemed to fade and then grow again, like a pulsating aura.
An aura?
Yes, that was what it was. Not a scent, and aura! But then, why could he smell it? Was it that powerful? No, it was a ploy. Inuyasha was sending out his aura in hopes that someone would find him, and in case there was a demon that was too numb to sense an aura, there was a scent to follow in it's wake.
"Brilliant," he muttered, almost to himself. He flew across the floor, Yusuke close at his heels with Kuwabara and Kigeko struggling to keep up pace with them. Suddenly, the fox stopped and in one fluid motion kicked down the door before him. Yusuke raised any eyebrow at this uncharacteristic behavior, but did not question. The red haired demon leapt through the threshold, and without questioning, Yusuke followed.
There was Inuyasha, chains and shackles about his ankles, wrists, and neck. He seemed beyond downtrodden, the amber eyes were lifeless, and he did not respond when the four came rampaging through the doorway. This put the companions off guard, and for a moment, Kurama feared the worst.
Slowly, he inched forward, signally for the others to stay behind.
"Inuyasha?" he called calmly into the chamber. It was amazingly large considering that this chamber had merely been an extension off a first floor corridor. For a moment, Kurama wondered if this castle was not all it seemed. "Inuyasha, can you hear me?"
Kurama continued to inch closer, making no sudden moves and no loud noises, till at last he was kneeled beside the hanyou. Concern mounted in his emerald green eyes, and a sympathetic smile danced across his softened, wise features.
"It's all right," he urged, tugging at the half-demon's arm. "We've come to get you out of here."
There was no response. Kurama looked worriedly over to Yusuke and the others, then turned once more to Inuyasha.
"What's wrong with him?" echoed Yusuke from behind.
Kurama frowned deeply, his brow knitting in deep contemplation. "I'm not sure."
"Well, get him up!"
The frown deepened. "I'm not sure how possible that is. He seems to be traumatized."
"From what?" Yusuke moved carelessly to the hanyou's side, startling Kurama greatly. The Spirit Detective kneeled and started shaking Inuyasha at his shoulders. "WHAT-IS-THE-MATTER-WITH-YOU?" he growled. There was no response.
This time, Yusuke resorted to slapping the half-demon. "LOOK! I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU, AND PERSONALLY I DON'T CARE! BUT WE'VE GOT FRIENDS WE NEED TO SAVE AND YOUR SITTING HERE IN SELF PITY ISN'T HELPING! NOW-GET-UP!"
"Yusuke!" Kurama hissed in warning. Suddenly, a clawed hand reached up and grasped Yusuke's wrist. Hard.
"He has Kagome," the hanyou whispered.
Kurama's countenance softened at the mention of the half-demon's companion. "I'm sorry?"
"Imashirou. He has Kagome. He's done something to her. She doesn't know who she is or who I am anymore."
Yusuke and Kurama exchanged glances.
"That must have been the brunette Imashirou was carrying!" Kigeko announced from the shadows of the threshold.
"Yeah, but he had Yukina too. What's he planning on doing with her?"
The last response was obviously Kuwabara.
Inuyasha's head bent low, his eyes closed tight against a flow of tears. Kurama bowed his head respectfully. "He's going to kill her!" Inuyasha started. "He's going to kill her and there's nothing I can do about it!"
It was Yusuke's turn. He frowned deeply, a look of understanding unexpectedly falling over the boy's face.
"Look, as long as you love this girl there's nothing you can't do for her. If you're willing to save her you'll do anything you can to get her back," Inuyasha brought his eyes up slightly. A glimmer of something shone within the amber depths, and this brought hope to Kurama's heart. "You can't just give up now, especially when she needs you most. You'll have yourself for the rest of your life if you do that," silence. Then, "Let's go get your girl,"
Kurama broke the chains with his whip, and a tired, but very angry Inuyasha stood, fingers crooked and ready to draw blood.
"Let's go." he growled.
"Wait!" Kurama stated. "Do you know where they're keeping Hiei?"
Inuyasha lead them down the steps and into a very dark chamber. It was as cold as ice. An eerie silence that seemed to be penetrated by nothing hung dank in the air. The room was....empty.
"I don't get it." Yusuke frowned.
Kurama's countenance held a similar expression. "Nor do I. Where is he?"
The sudden and abrupt sound of a light switch resounded behind them, and all turned to find Kigeko messing about with a control panel.
All initial reactions here halted however, as a set of containment tubes lit up across the walls. One by one, a great, yellow shaft of light illuminated what was contained within them. Demons of all shapes and sizes were contained within these cylinder shaped units, all of them equally powerful.
"He wasn't in here originally," Inuyasha croaked as his own eyes danced around the room. They were completely surrounded by these units. "But he would have been moved here after....there!" Inuyasha pointed a clawed hand to his left, and all eyes turned.
In one, swift movement, all were standing before Hiei's cylindrical shaped chamber. His eyes were closed and his body bobbed up and down with the flow of the liquid.
"What is he being contained in?" asked Kurama, his eyes glancing curiously about this contraption that held Hiei. Inuyasha shrugged. Frowning, Kurama circled the chamber numerous times. "I don't see anything that would release him." he sighed in frustration.
"We come all this way for nothing," Kuwabara griped, shoving his hands disappointedly into his pockets.
Yusuke whirled around on his friend, glaring. "We did not come all this way for nothing!" he growled heatedly. Kuwabara backed off, and Kigeko raised her brow in a moment of being impressed. "What plans do you have, Kurama?"
The kitsune had already pulled out his whip, lashing furiously at the glass. It was no use. Yusuke stepped in and tried his Spirit Gun.
The smoke cleared to reveal the chamber still very much in tact. But they had made some progress.
Hiei's eyes were open.
All three of them.
Author's Note: Well, how's that?