The battle was not turned at all in Yusuke's favor. Though Kurama, Kuwabara, and Inuyasha fought fiercely to battle Imashirou at his side, they were making little more than a dent in this man's powers.

"I don't understand it," Kurama breathed as they leapt out of the way of yet another attack. "He should be near exhaustion! Yet he barely shows signs of tiredness!"

That news didn't help Yusuke's mood any. True, Imashirou seemed completely untouched by the random attacks of these four friends while the rest of them were on the verge of keeling over.

"Where the hell is Hiei?" Yusuke breathed while avoiding a pillar of flame aimed in his direction. He missed being completely singed by just a fraction of an inch.

"Hiei's powers haven't returned yet," Kurama spitefully informed him.

"Well they better hurry up," Kuwabara muttered angrily, a frown creasing his brow. "We're not going to last much longer."

Inuyasha, a few meters away, taking cover in the shadows, sighed in exasperation. "This sucks! Where's backup when you need it?"

"Someone call?"

All heads rose at the sound of a familiar voice.

Kigeko stood at the base of the stairs with at least twenty other demons in tow. Shippou sat calmly on her shoulder. She was flanked by Sesshomaru on her left, and an unknown girl at her right. Hikari, Kurama guessed.

Hikari was taller than Kigeko, with slightly longer brown, curly hair and sea green eyes. She had long fingernails and a well muscled physique that told all of them she was no novice to battle.

"About damn time," Yusuke laughed, wiping a trickle of blood from his chin. The others were grinning as well, all save Inuyasha.

"What are you doing here, Sesshomaru?" the hanyou spat.

Grinning, Sesshomaru cast his gaze aside toward Imashirou.

"I'm not here by my will, half brother," commented the demon with a maniacal snarl. "I was imprisoned here. I've come to slay this warlord and save Rin."

"Rin?" Kurama raised an eyebrow. Inuyasha answered.

"Some human girl-child that he's infatuated with."

Kuwabara frowned.

"That's just gross, man."

"Not like that you moron," Inuyasha hit the boy over the head with the hilt of Tetsusaiga. "Well, if you're going to help us, start making yourself useful."

Sesshomaru nodded happily and leapt to the challenge. Kigeko followed with Hikari at her side, and a slew of other demons in their shadow answered the call as well.

We may just win this, Kurama dared to hope.

- - -

Hiei had traveled far from the battle. In just a few moments, he had followed the scent of Yukina and found himself in an anti chamber similar to the one he was held in. The wall was lined with the thin, dead forms of hundreds of young woman. Demon and human.

The smell alone made bile rise in the fire demon's throat. He swallowed hard against the wave of sickness and pressed on through the chamber until he found the two faces he was looking for. There was the dark brunette that the dog demon Inuyasha was so besotted with. A few holds down, Yukina was being kept as well.

Hiei's anger took over within seconds. Both women were soon freed from their prison. Though she was unconscious, Yukina was otherwise all right.

He couldn't say the same for Kagome. Hiei flung one over each shoulder and left, heading slowly back upstairs where the battle took place.

Suddenly, the shuddering form of a small child caught Hiei's eye. He glared in the direction, not quite certain what to do. Laying both women gently on the floor, Hiei approached the trembling thing cautiously, though the glare on his countenance had not dissipated.

"Who are you?"

The figure tucked itself tighter into the corner. Hiei sighed. He had no time for games.

"If you want, I can take you away from here."

There was a pause.

"Do you know where Sesshomaru-sama is?"

"Who?"

"Sesshomaru-sama. He's...he takes care of me, and protects me."

Hiei shook his head.

"I do not know where this man is. But I will take you away from this man if you will let me."

Hiei could now see that this trembling figure was nothing more than a little girl. A young, weak little girl who had no way of defending herself, even if she desired to. Her eyes darted around nervously. Hiei couldn't really blame her for not trusting him. There was no way of knowing what Imashirou had done to her, or what she had been forced to witness. Suddenly, the brown eyes widened at the sight of Kagome's limp form.

"I know her," she whispered weakly, coming from the shadows to reveal a bruised face and neck. Hiei winced, but hid his expression well. He nodded.

"Yes, there are many of us here. This Sesshomaru you're looking for, he may be here as well. If you come with me, I promise to help you find him."

Something between sympathy and pity had risen in Hiei's heart. He wasn't sure why he made the promise, but he did, and something in this girl's eyes had cut through the stone and reached a tender section of heart that few even knew existed.

"My name is Rin,"

- - -

The added force alone was an unexpected overbalance on the scale. Imashirou was failing badly now. The numerous attacks from each direction caused him to misjudge on several attacks, which only caused him more pain as he left so many angles of his body open.

The battle would be won. Yusuke knew it. He couldn't wipe the smile from his face as Sesshomaru brought the man to his knees. Hikari sent two deep incisions down the center of his back, one on each side of his spine. The white robes and smooth polished stone were soaked with warm blood. Steam rose from the new forming pools, due to the hot liquid mingling with the cold stone.

Kigeko soon leapt in. Shippou had abandoned her for a safer spot in the rafters above their heads, much to her relief. Her hair curled, eyes blazing red, horns sprouted and nails lengthening, Kigeko made a very inhuman move.

She took the nails that grew from her thumbs and jammed them deep into the eye sockets of Imashirou. Fowl hissing noises erupted from both beings, but Kigeko's were of pleasure. With a flick of her wrists, she'd blinded the warlord permanently.

No amount of magic or skill would allow those torn eyeballs to fit properly back into their sockets.

By this time, most were standing in awe of the spectacle. Kigeko, Hikari, and Sesshomaru were still in plain view. Imashirou writhed in pain on the ground. His fingers scratched desperately at the stone and air, while his bruised body crawled desperately for a haven from these merciless attackers.

"I SURRENDER!" he screamed in a voice that was most definitely human. "I SURRENDER! LEAVE ME IN PEACE!"

- - -

"I'm afraid that that cannot be done," hissed a cold voice from the shadows.

In a flash, Hiei passed by the warlord once. A deep slash had gone through his stomach, for the warlord was on his knees and gazing upward into the red nothingness that was his bloody eye sockets.

"That was for all the lives you've taken!"

Another flash. A deep sword wound was now evident in the man's chest. Imashirou was now gasping for air.

"That was for all the lives you've disrupted for all the death you've caused."

Another flash. The warlord's head fell to the floor while his body twitched spasmodically. A few seconds later, and the body too soon fell. Backward, leaving a screaming, gaping face a few feet away, with eyeless sockets and blood pouring like tears down fair skin.

"And that, is for pissing me off."

Kigeko watched this with amazement. Kuwabara paled while Kurama only stared on. Sesshomaru seemed pleased with the performance, while Yusuke sat with a stupid smile on his face. Hikari had a slight grin on her face, though the exact purpose of it's nature could not be completely read.

"That was quite a show," Kigeko laughed. The others shared it, mainly out of nervousness.

"Is that it? We're finished?" Kuwabara asked in a shaking voice.

"Seems that way," Yusuke answered from behind. He shrugged and made for the upstairs.

- - -

Author's Note: Okay, one more chapter guys. Thanks a bunch for all the reviews. You all rock!

Hope I didn't make anyone sick with the details...I'd feel bad if I did.