Ch. 4 Conditions

Botan: Hello there! Hope everyone is enjoying the story.

Neo Zaku: Oh course they are. Why else would they still be reading it?

Botan: Well perhaps they just wanted to see how bad it could get.

Neo Zaku: -sweatdrop- Don't make me put you in a lemon scene with Ogre.

Botan: Heh, heh, ummmm yes well then lets get on with the story shall we.

Ogre: Why does everyone hate me?

It was up to Kuwabara to get Hiei and himself to demon world. Cutting open a hole to demon world with his sword Kuwabara glances nervously at Hiei before stepping into the space between dimensions. The strange void of darkness and lines of light in box patterns everwhere and also nowhere in a rather disorienting fashion. Kuwabara had seen it before and it still makes him nervous.

"So what's in demon world that we need to get?" Kuwabara inquires anxiously.

"Not we you fool, you. Now stop delaying and hurry up." Hiei snarls shoving Kuwabara into the opening before someone spotted them. Moving in a blur Hiei stands besides the stumbling Kuwabara.

Two weeks later Botan is gliding in the air unseen by the people wandering on the streets below. Ducking into an alley she causes her oar to vanish and changes her clothes to something more suitable for moving around in the human world. Her pink kimono was not the most suitable attire. Strolling onto the sidewalk she makes a bee line for Kuwabara's house, that boy had some explaining to do. Knocking on the front door Botan is surprised to find Shizuru on the other side when it opens.

"You have some explaining to do Botan." Shizuru states calmly, taking a small drag on her cigarette.

"Whatever do you mean Shizuru?" Botan asks, clearly perplexed.

"Well my baby bother has been gone for two weeks now. I assumed he was on another on of your cases considering he wandered off with that Hiei guy last time I saw him." Shizuru replies her tone rising slightly in accusation.

"They were assigned to wok together in Yusuke and Kurama's absence but they haven't been given a case. At least not one that I know of. I stopped by because they were supposed to deliver a report yesterday. I wonder where they could have gotten off to."

"If my baby brother is in trouble..." Shizuru begins with obvious menace in her voice.

"Ummm...heh... no need to trouble yourself. I'll just talk to Koenma about this. He'll know where they are. Gotta go, see you!" Hopping onto her oar and hightailing it for spirit world.

Bursting into the throne room Botan sees that Koenma is standing in his teenager form staring at the monitor which showing demon world.

"Why didn't you tell me Kuwabara and Hiei have been gone for two weeks? Shizuru was most upset to hear that I didn't know where Kuwabara was. I thought I was supposed to deliver cases to the team." Botan demands.

"Are you done yelling Botan?" Pauses to make sure she is "The truth is I don't know where they are other then somewhere in demon world. Kuwabara cut another hole in the barrier that had to be repaired. And Hiei is hiding their energies from being found. Since we haven't found another hole other then the first one I can only conclude they haven't returned yet."

"What are they doing in demon world?"

"I honestly don't know."

"So those two have been wandering demon world for two weeks and you haven't sent anyone to look for them?"

"Demon world is a big place Botan, even just the parts we control. Besides we are stretched thin as it is with our forces. And another thing, those two can take care of themselves. Hiei knows the area fairly well, I think, and while Kuwabara is human he also can defend himself."

"Wonder what Hiei said to convince Kuwabara to go."

"Probably some challenge to his manhood no doubt. Kuwabara has had a hard time trying to fit in with the team ever since Yusuke discovered and awakened his demon heritage. As the only full human on the team he is at a disadvantage in some respects. I am just concerned with how Yusuke's case is going in the states."

"Have we gotten any reports from them?"

"Yes, Kurama has been checking I everyday and updating me. So far they haven't found any clues or demons either. Which is troubling since there were supposed to be a rather large amount of them the last time we had a report from the area."

"Maybe they dispersed to other parts of the country. Or have been avoiding Yusuke and Kurama based on their strength."

"Maybe, however given our luck with cases it is far more likely that this bigger demon has just eliminated the local population over time. I just hope he isn't so strong that Yusuke will end up destroying the city fighting him."

Botan turned white as she contemplates the true scale of destruction that could be unleashed in one of Yusuke's fights. Fumbling with her oar she makes for the door.

"Where are you off to Botan?" Koenma asks knowing full well where she was heading.

"Yusuke and Kurama have to know sir. Besides it'll give me time to try and figure out where Hiei and Kuwabara have gotten off to." Botan shouts as she flies down the hall, causing several orges to have to dive to the sides to avoid being run over.

Somewhere deep in demon world a human voice breaks through the foliage of one of the dark forests. The tall foreboding trees seem almost alive with hunger and eyes seem to watch the pair walking through from every direction.

"So where are we going anyway? We've been walking through these creepy woods for two weeks now and fought I can't even remember how many demons."

"Five hundred and seventy nine." Hiei responds turning for a moment and with a blur of motion cuts down another demon that leaps from the trees. "Make that five hundred and eighty."

"Wow, that's the first one to have attacked for nearly 4 hours." Kuwabara comments looking around trying to spot any more demons.

"Yes, well I am sure news of our presence has probably begun to circulate widely by now so most the weaker demons with any kind of brains will have gotten out of the area." Hiei says, leaning against a tree.

"Huh, why are we stopping now? Don't tell me you need a break. I mean after all that talk about how demons are so superior to demons..."

"Silence fool, this is the place. If all the arrangements were carried out then he should be here shortly."

"He? He who?" Kuwabara asks clearly perplexed.

"A demon doctor."

"Doctor? But I'm not sick"

"No you fool he specializes in a very special operation. If you can survive it then you will pass the first of my conditions. With any luck for you it will give you the edge you need to defeat me as per the second part of our agreement."

"How do I know you aren't just going to let him kill me while I am unconscious or something?"

"If I were going to kill you I would have done so myself. This doctor was very hard to track down, not many do this operation so be more appreciative." Hiei replies coldly, folding his arms and closing his eyes. "It'll be about an hour before he gets here so get some rest human. You are going to need it."