Disclaimer: Do not own YYH.
Thanks to my reviewers:
K.C.Whitestar- lol kitties are soo kawaii, aren't they?! Thanks for the review and finally HERE'S THE UPDATE!!!!!!
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shadowfox017- I'm sorry you lost your pen name!! AW! (gives you big hug) Sorry about not updating sooner! (sees peeling tape) OH NO!!! (starts using really strong glue)
ShatteredSoul56- You've come back!! I missed you!!! (huggles) That's ok, I forgive you. I'm really glad you like it so far!! Here's your update!!
(Just a few reminders: This story takes place two years after the first Dark Tournament, so when I say in this chapter that Yusuke's sixteen, that's why. Also, I stress that neither this story nor any of my work is yaoi. Just because it exists doesn't mean I have to write it. Thank you and have a nice day.)
Hey everybody!! I'm REALLY sorry I haven't updated...school's been evil, EVIL I SAY!!! Well...yeah. That's about it. I'll ask you to please be patient with future updates, for I'm stuck doing dumb French homework every night. Anyway, finally, I introduce to you the next chapter! Enjoy, and please review!!
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"Are you sure it was Ryton?" Kurama asked while pacing the room once again.
Hiei was back in his place on the windowsill, his hand holding his forehead and his fingers halfway through his hairline, holding back the black bangs from his eyes, which were staring blankly downward.
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," the fire youkai answered.
Kurama flung himself down into the nearest chair in agitation, ignoring a pain that flared up in his right leg.
Hiei flinched as his leg began to throb.
Kurama grimaced. "Sorry." Hiei nodded in acknowledgement, and the fox sighed. "But how could it be him? I killed him, I told you I did-"
"And I believe you," Hiei cut in. "I'm saying either he's back, or I'm just becoming delusional."
"Well, I'm sure it's not the latter," Kurama chuckled halfheartedly.
"Then why could only I hear him?"
"Perhaps he was speaking into your mind."
"But it wasn't telepathy, Kurama. I can sense telepathy, hear it in my head. His words I heard with my ears."
"Then why could I not?" Kurama questioned. He paused, and sighed heavily again. "This isn't working. We're going in circles."
"I agree," Hiei said, "But what else can we do? Maybe it wasn't him at all. Maybe it was all just a hallucination."
"You're not going crazy," Kurama said firmly.
"Are you so sure?" Hiei shot back. Then he took in a sharp breath as he realized what he had just said.
The kitsune's eyes narrowed. "What? What is it?"
"I...I don't know," Hiei slowly answered. "Those words...it was exactly what Ryton said to me when I said I wasn't going crazy. And when I said it, I had this odd feeling like...like it wasn't me responding. I don't know. It was strange, that's all."
"Many strange things have been happening over the past few days," Kurama said, clearly concerned. "You should try to rest. We both need to recover, and two tired minds won't benefit our cause."
Hiei sighed. "You're right." He closed his eyes and leaned back, but had no intention of going to sleep for fear of the dreams he might have.
"Take the bed," Kurama said. "You need it more than I."
The fire demon shook his head.
"At least have something to drink before you start pretending to be asleep."
Hiei opened one eye to look at the kitsune. "Who said I was pretending?"
Kurama smiled, rose, and limped over to the supply bags to pour two cups of water. "Here," he said, handing one to his friend.
Hiei eyes it suspiciously, but drank after Kurama had drained his entirely.
Kurama watched him drink with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "There, was that so bad?" the fox asked as he took the cup from Hiei's hand.
Before the fire youkai had time to answer, his eyes were closed and he was safe in the land of dreamless sleep.
Yusuke cried out as the feline's claws sank into his left arm. He had let her get close, too close, and now he was going to pay with his life.
Siana smiled as her nails dug deeper into his flesh, staining her fingers bright crimson and making him scream in pain. She pulled him close to her and twisted her hand downward, bringing Yusuke's arm with it.
The neko then forced him to the ground, stepping on his right hand with her foot. Now her prey was trapped and helpless, and her Clan was cheering her on. She raised her free hand above his neck. "It was nice knowing you, Detective," she purred.
Yusuke's mind raced, but without his Spirit Energy there was nothing he could do. His arm was screaming in pain, still held by the two-tail's sharp grip. His other arm was useless, trapped under the cat's boot. He closed his eyes, waiting for the final blow, the killing stroke.
It came.
But Yusuke didn't feel a thing.
Then he felt warm drops of spilled blood on his skin. Still, there was no pain, no anything. He heard a moan from above him and the hushed whispering of many voices. He slowly opened his eyes.
Standing above him was Siana, but it was she who shed the blood. It was now flowing openly from a wound in her chest. Her eyes glassed over and she dropped to the ground, dead.
Well, there goes my problem, Yusuke thought. But who...?
He looked up to see the male two-tail from earlier, the one called Miono, towering over his former leader's body. He had a short dagger clutched in his hand, the full blade shining red.
Miono shot him a look, then glanced around at the startled Clan. "What are you all looking at?" he said confidently. "I thought it was time we had a new leader, and I've decided to fill the position. Anyone have a problem?"
The Clan was silent.
Miono nodded and drew his attention back to the crippled Detective. "And you, human," he said. "Pick yourself up off the ground."
Yusuke really didn't want to mess with this guy. The male neko had saved him, probably just so he could kill him himself, but still. Besides, he was wounded enough as it was. He slowly removed Siana's claws from his arm and stood.
The new leader of the two-tail clan tossed his bloodstained dagger aside. "Yusuke Urameshi, age sixteen, race human, Spirit Detective of the Earth," he said, slowly circling the teen.
"That's right," Yusuke confirmed. "Now what do you plan to do with me?"
"Nothing, for now," Miono said. "You will come with us, and when you are healed I will fight you. And you will die."
Kurama sat on the windowsill that Hiei so often occupied, having moved the fire youkai to the bed. No wonder Hiei likes this spot, he thought as he stared blankly out the window. It has a beautiful view. It's soothing to my senses, and makes it easier to think.
His thoughts drifted to his friend. He turned to look at the fire demon's sleeping form. I've never seen him so upset. How could he possibly be hearing Ryton? He's dead. I saw him die. I heard his last heartbeat. Something's definitely wrong here. But what?
The neko flicked his unusual tails, one black, the other white, and two others slowly stepped from the ring of Clan members. "Bind his hands, and wrap that wound on his arm," Miono ordered. The two hesitated. "You heard me!" their new leader yelled. Both two-tails jumped and immediately set to work.
The younger two-tail named Li came forward. "Miono, may I gave him some water?" she asked. Her opinion of Miono obviously hadn't changed.
He looked down at her, and his expression softened. "Yes, Li, go ahead."
The girl smiled and ran to the Detective. The others were busy with his arms, so she sprang up onto him. He jumped as her light weight rested on his body. "Open your mouth," she said, wrapping her legs around his waist and letting go of his neck. She took a small canteen from the folds of her tunic.
Yusuke was surprised. Why were they being so nice to him all of a sudden? Didn't Miono want to kill him? Maybe the water was poisoned. Yeah, they wanted to poison him for sure. He refused to open his mouth.
Li narrowed her eyes as if reading his thoughts. "It isn't poisoned, silly-head. Just look." She uncorked the canteen and took a big gulp of water. "See?" she said, wiping her mouth on her sleeve. "Come on now, there can't be better proof than that. Now open up."
Yusuke stiffened and gasped softly as his wrists were pulled tightly together. The young neko took this opportunity to shove the neck of the canteen into his mouth. With her other hand she held his nose so he would be forced to drink.
The Detective held it as long as he could, but finally his lungs began to burst and he started to gulp the water down.
Satisfied, Li let go of his nose and pulled the empty canteen away. "Honestly, was that so bad?" She twisted backward, freed his waist from her legs, and flipped off him in one fluid motion.
"Good, now let's go," Miono said. The Clan began to move off, leaving their dead leader behind. "And you, Urameshi," the male neko said.
Having no other choice, Yusuke walked off through the forest beside Li and Miono.