Catse: Well, here you go! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Sorry it took so long to update it, everyone here in the house pulled me off for one thing or another every time I even tip-toed towards the computer. Well, I hope you like this chapter and that everyone has had a Happy New Year!

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"Satou! Satou come out!" The group droned as they entered the forests of the barrier. In no way did they want to let open their position, but they also didn't want Satou to be lost without someone to protect her. If she heard their voice, she might come to them.

"Why the hell would she enter the barrier?! She knows how dangerous it is here!" Katai shouted, hands on hips as she glared around at the area.

"She most likely wanted to help." Seika answered instead, perched on a boulder. They had been searching for almost ten minutes, but there was no sign of the cute little black haired girl with the red eyes.

Suki nodded her agreement. "If it's one thing I know about that little girl she'll do anything to help when she thinks she can."

"So she wanted to help with the mission. She didn't have to. She should have known we could take care of ourselves." Katai continued, crouching on the ground.

"Yes. But to a girl that age, worry is the most uncontainable emotion there is next to sadness and happiness. She can't help but worry unless she's right there with you." Haku agreed, leaning against a tree. Yoru didn't have the same belief however.

"She can die for all I care. Would help us get rid of the brat."

"Us? Don't you mean you?" Seika answered, growling his hatred for Kenya's older sister.

"Why yes. Me and Kenya and the rest of the family. She's nothing but a hindrance to us all…and you know it. Once she's dead, we can all live our lives with out having to deal with the little sweet-headed brat."

"Take that back!" Katai shouted, hands balled up into fists. She was again on her feet, and ready for fighting with her brows arced the same way her father would in the same situation.

Kenya would have usually joined the fight, but for that moment he was silent…and the group couldn't understand why.

"Hey Kenya! Aren't you going to fight for your little sister! She's not a sweet-headed brat and you know it!" Seika cheered, coming up on Kenya.

He thought that perhaps Kenya was being silent for his fear of his older sister. Even if he was brave and carefully contained, a close friend could still tell the fear in his eyes, every time Yoru was some where near by.

"Of course he isn't. He won't fight his older sister for someone younger than he. He's just not that way, right Kenya?" Yoru snickered.

Kenya didn't answer, choosing instead to stare at the ground.

"Right?"

"Kenya…?" Katai murmured, looking at him. She almost wanted to pity him…but then again, she was her father's daughter. "Kenya are you listening! Get your head out of the clouds and look around! Your older sister is ridiculing you for god sakes!"

Kenya still refused to answer, staring at the ground.

Katai snarled, shaking her head. "Coward…" She mumbled.

"Exactly. Now you got the idea." Yoru murmured, smiling. "The brat is a coward and just like his father he won't lift a finger to someone more powerful than he—"

"Shut it or I slit your throat." A low croak could be heard from the silence.

"What? What did you say…?" Yoru glared, knowing exactly who said it. She was merely surprised though that he actually was standing up for himself against his older sister.

"Are you deaf? I said shut it or I slit your throat." Kenya replied, looking up.

Yoru covered up her shock with a sneer. "You're only saying that because you don't want to be called a coward. I know how it is—"

"I am a coward. I will step down from anyone that has more power than me if I have no reason to fight. But when it comes to someone ridiculing those I hold dear, such as my younger sister or my father, I loose that cowardice in anger. And Yoru, you may have a temper, but you know just as well as anyone that I don't get mad often, and when I do I kill."

Everyone stared at their leader. He was right. He didn't get angry often. In fact, they had yet to see him in an actual rage at all. Most times, if he fought, it was just a simple tournament to test skills, or a way to knock out an enemy. But they had never seen him fight with his fullest potential. Even in the last mini-tournament, when he was fighting both Haku and Seika, they could tell their leader was holding back…but for what reason, they weren't sure. But they didn't believe he would "kill" in a rage. Perhaps beat someone in, but never "kill".

"Kenya…what are you talking about—?" Katai started, but Suki waved her hand for her to quiet.

"He's right. There's only been one time that I know of that Kenya has ever been truly angry. And that was when Yoru attempted to kill Satou by hanging her out the second story window when she was barely a year old." She stated

"So that's why Satou is so afraid of Yoru? I would be too if put through that at a young age." Seika added, frowning.

"Well then! Because of that I'm going to kick your ass!" Katai ran at Yoru, but before she could get two feet close, a hand knabbed her shoulder and held her in place. It was a strong grip, and a look back at it's owner surprised her. "Kenya?"

"Come. We won't be fighting amongst ourselves. Besides. With Parasite Vines along her bone, she can't do much more than stand and look pretty. And if verbal words can affect us, then we don't deserve to be a Spirit Detective team."

"But Kenya…You were…?"

"Don't worry about it. I was a little off the edge is all. I've regained my composure." Kenya replied smiling.

Suddenly, an earth shattering scream echoed across the land, scaring a few crows into the sky from their perch in the trees.

"Satou!" Suki shouted, running in that direction an instant after she heard it.

The others followed, Kenya in the lead.

When they reached the area, they were surprised by what they found.

Satou sat in the middle of the clearing, scrunched up into a little ball, as a group of thirty demons crowded in on her, arguing about who would get what part of her body.

Suki almost leapt into the area to fight the demons herself, but Kenya held her in position.

"Let's form a plan first." He whispered. "We don't exactly know what all is in this area."

"If I might assist." Haku replied, smiling.

"Please." Kenya added, and Haku snuck up to the front quietly, even far more quiet than a cat, and took a look about him. Slowly, as if he were controlling them, a wall of vines slid down before them, covering them from view. Then he nodded and turned to Kenya.

"There is a wall of Blood Vines over there to the left of the perimeter. If any of us gets to close, they will attack and feed like vampires until every drop of blood is gone from the body. Over there, opposite us, is what we commonly know as Poison Lily and a patch of Cat Claw. Each are venamous and bite like a serpant. The demons in front are normal D-class ones, except for the one that has feathers along his scalp. He is at most, a B-Class. But he won't be difficult in the least. These types are rather stupid and only know organization to their survival."

"Anything else, oh wise college boy?" Katai snickered quietly, staring at him like she were a bully.

"Yes. You're foot is currently caught up Web Weed, which slowly devours the skin from what ever it has grasped until it reaches the bone, whereas it then slowly devours that as well."

"What?!" Katai looked down to where the vines had wrapped her leg and began to kick it wildly.

The sound of it caught the attention of one of the demons, who, like a guard, came walking towards the wall of vines to take a peak.

Instantly, some of them shot out and struck him, peircing his skull and chest, and leaving him dead in an instant.

"Talk about deadly…" Seika replied, staring at the dead demon.

"I told you. I have mastered the art of plant growth almost to the acheivment of perfection. Now, here is the plan I have derrived."

Haku quietly explained things, after he had gotten rid of the vines on Katai's foot of course, and when they nodded, they decided to conduct it.

After all, if they didn't have a plan, then Satou would most likely not live.

Haku snuck over to the Blood Vines, and hid behind them, slowly taking over them with his power.

Katai waited nearby, ready to put on the show.

Kenya waited on the right side of the clearing, he being the fastest one. Once Satou was left alone, then he would zip in and grab her. But if the demons were smarter than they expected, and took Satou with them, then Seika, Arune, and Yoru were set to kill off the demons holding her so that Kenya could get to her.

Once Haku gave the cue, Katai, rolling her eyes, stepped before the now controlled vines.

"Hey there cuties!" She shouted, taking a model position. She really hated doing this, but they promised her much destruction and ass-kicking if she did it, and plus, it was for Kenya's little sister. What was she supposed to do.

Almost all of the demons turned to look her way, and shyly, almost embarrassed of herself, she waved flirtily and giggled.

Kenya himself was stuck wondering how any of them had managed to convince the tomboyish eleven year old to flaunt and flirt.

"They must have offered her something good…Either that, or she finally lost it." He mumbled to himself. But as the demons began to move, he began to sit up, ready to run in the exact moment they were away from Satou's curled up body.

Things were looking good…All of them had left…But wait! One of them reached down and scooped Satou up in his large green paws.

'No…! No!!!' Kenya thought, angrily. 'You're not supposed to pick her up! Put her back down!'

"Another human. Our lucky day." One of the demons hissed.

Katai too had noticed that Satou was still with the group, and smiled, waiting for the group to close in on her.

"Oh come now…This can't be too lucky of a day. After all, I'm all lost out here." She pouted, pursing her lips cutely.

"Oh…maybe not yours. But it is ours." One snarled, reaching out. He snatched onto Katai's arm, bringing it up to sniff.

She smiled, sweetly, then, when he dragged her all the way towards her, she smirked.

"Now!!!" She shouted, shoving the demon back.

Instantly, Seika, Arune, and Yoru leapt out from the bushes and attacked, killing demons left and right.

Katai joined in beating them, just as Kenya came running in.

It took him a moment to find Satou, but when he did, he pulled her from the demons arms and ran as fast as his legs could carry him towards the vines.

"Now! Run!" Kenya ordered. Instantly the entire group, Seika, Katai, Arune, and Yoru leapt from the path just as the Blood Vines leapt out and snatched the demons, covering their screams up in their green silky vines.

"Mission accomplished!" Seika exclaimed, as Katai hummed the mission impossible song.

Kenya sat on a boulder and unwrapped the tiny bundle in his hands. Satou was still clutching her legs, whimpering now and then in fear.

"Hey." Kenya whispered, nudging her cheek gently with one of his hands.

Satou squinted her eyes open, and looked up at her older brother.

"Kenya…?" She mumbled.

"Sure is."

"Kenya!" She jumped up and hugged him roughly around the neck, standing on his lap.

"Whoa! Stop it! You're going to strangle me!" Kenya laughed, pulling her off and setting her down. Then he became serious. "You know it was a terrible thing for you to come in here. It's dangerous, and you could have been killed!"

Satou hung her head sadly, and nodded. "I know…But I thought…If I came…I could help…"

"I know." Kenya mumbled back. "But this is no place for a little girl like you."

The group crowded around the two, some with smiles, others…not.

"Damn right! You're little presence here forced us off the mission." Yoru snarled, scaring Satou into a little ball in Kenya's arms again.

"Enough Yoru." Suki growled, clenching her fists as if she were ready to attack.

"Whatever. Let's just drop her off and be out of here." Yoru replied, walking away with her amrs folded across her chest.

"Sometimes I wonder how mental that girl can possibly be." Seika acknowledged quietly, smiling a little when Katai nodded her agreement.

"In any case, Yoru is right about one thing. We have to return to get Satou back to our parents." Kenya acknowledged, setting Satou on the ground. But as he stood, he noticed how her tiny hand refused to let go of him.

"No. I'm not going back." She replied, nearly sobbing in her determination.

"I'm sorry Satou. But this is no game. You need to go back and wait for us—"

"No! I'm not going back! I'm going to stay and help where ever I can!"

"Satou! You have to go back!"

"Kenya! We got company!" Arune shouted, her staff at the ready. A look back at the clearing they had just left told them that she was right.

In the middle, a man in slim black clothing stood, smiling. In one hand he held a scythe. His hair was long, golden flowing, and his eyes, gold to match, glimmered like coins.

"Who…?" Katai began, but he snickered and replied before she could finish.

"I am Lord Rioko my dear. The very being you are after."

"You're Lord Rioko?" Came Suki, growling.

"Yes…But I am sorry my dearest. You are too late to this spot. I no longer live here. None of the children are here either. So sorry to have fooled you so well." Then he turned to Arune and smiled. "I knew you would turn on me. That's why I had Enura do the serious work. You're sister is far more dependable than you ever where. Tsk tsk tsk…I'll have to take care of that."

Instantly, a wall of vines leapt from the ground and snatched Arune from where she stood, pulling her into the ground from behind them. She snarled at the vines, but before she could fight it all the way, she was gone within the Earth. "There, that takes care of that little betrayal."

"Shut up you pig." Yoru snarled. "I finally found you and I am going to kill you just the same."

"Well at least she's helpin' out…" Seika mumbled slightly in Kenya's ear.

He nodded his own surprise.

Yoru…helping? That was unusual in itself.

Suddenly, before they even realized what was going on, Yoru had swung out her whip and attacked the man, only to find in an instant that her whip had twirled around her and bound her into a helpless bundle.

The end of the whip rose into Lord Rioko's hand, and he yanked it up, pulling Yoru up to press close to his body almost as if they were a couple in love.

"I'll take this…charming little being. Oh…just for a clue…Once there were two little ones…now there remain one…Ta ta children…" In an instant, the man was gone, Yoru with him. The last words on the wind were: "Oh…and please watch out for the web…It can be quite…gripping…" Then he was completely gone.

"I do believe that is the nicest thing I have ever heard of that man doing." Katai mumbled when they were certain Lord Rioko was gone.

Now they were down two people. Arune had been sucked into the Earth, most likely dead now. Sure they were peeved at that. Kenya and Seika had actually come to liking her, although she was quiet and rarely spoke. But there was no time left to feel sorry for her.

Haku woke them up to that fact.

"It seems we've been left a gift." He mumbled, pointing at where Lord Rioko had stood a moment.

A dark gas floated around in the middle, with out shape or form.

"What is that?" Katai inquired. They were quieted though when a thick white mucous lept out from it's mouth and snatched them all in one large web.

They were jumbled together for a moment, until the mysterious goo opened up along one side of branches to reveal them to what had caught them.

"Kukuku…a tasty treat this is…six delicious children, all in my web."

Kenya looked up into the snarling face of a spider, a few feet away from the web.

It had the normal eight legs, with an extended human body that came from where the head was supposed to be. The human body consisted of a chest that was hunched over, loosely dangling arms with long claws, and a human head with long fangs that extended over the bottom lip and horns coming out over a set of four eyes that seemed to twitch every other direction, taking them all in. "Kukuku…what a treat…"

"I can't move!" Katai shouted, fighting with the web. Suki was trapped near Seika, in which Katai was in the middle, getting even more caught in the web the more she fought, Haku was on Kenya's right, while Satou lay on his left.

None of them could move, and the only thought that ran through their heads were: 'How are we going to get out of this one…?'

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Catse: What did you think? I know I liked writing this bit. I'm sure there are plenty of questions (I know my brother bombarded me with plenty of them) such as: Where did Arune go? Why is Satou even on the mission? Where did Yoru go and why did Lord Rioko drag her off with him? Who is Enura? And what is this riddle about there being two little ones and now only one? Well, I'm sure you already know some of the answers if you're thinking along the same lines I am, so I would gladly take any comments you have on the subject. Well, got to go. Have a Happy New Year and Ja Ne for now!