"You found Kurama?" Yusuke said with a surprised tone, "Hiei, who did this to you?"
Hiei didn't answer. He scrambled to his feet and limped to the window. Once there, he put his head out the window and coughed up some blood. Yusuke ran to his aid, but was once again refused. Hiei shoved him away and turned toward him. He tried to speak, but only winced and dropped to the floor again. Shakily, he managed to sit up. A trickle of blood ran down from the corner of his mouth, and he spoke. "I… I don't need your help… Detective…"
Kuwabara and Yusuke knelt beside him. "Hiei, tell us what happened," Yusuke almost whispered. He turned to Kuwabara, "Get the first-aid kit," he said quietly, hoping Hiei wouldn't hear him, as he knew he'd protest. Kuwabara stood up and did as he was told.
Hiei wiped the blood from his mouth with his torn sleeve and took a deep breath. "He's back."
Yusuke looked at him quizzically, "Who's back?" he asked, "Kurama?"
Hiei simply shook his head, "Yusuke, do you know why Kurama escaped to the Ningenkai?" This was the first time in a while Hiei had referred to the Spirit Detective by his name.
"Well, I…" Yusuke paused to think, "I sort of know the story. Why? Does it have something to do with what happened to you?"
Hiei closed his eyes and smirked, chuckling a little. Yusuke was only becoming more and more confused. Kuwabara came in with a first-aid kit and tried to tend to Hiei's wounds. Hiei only pushed him away and began tending to himself. "The reason Kurama came to the Human Realm," Hiei began, "was to escape from a Demon Hunter that pursued him."
"Yeah? So what does that have to do with you?" Yusuke asked.
"Everything," Hiei responded simply, opening his eyes again, "We thought that the hunter was gone. After Kurama escaped, we never heard from him again, so, we left him for dead…" Hiei bashed the floor with his fist and snarled. "What fools we were!"
Kuwabara tried to pick up on the conversation, "So what are you saying? That this so-called Demon Hunter is back?"
"Hn," was Kuwabara's only response. After Hiei finished properly bandaging his wounds, he reached within his cloak and found another one of his bandanas and tied it around his head, concealing the Jagan.
"Hey, how many of those things do you have?" Kuwabara asked curiously.
"I've no time for meaningless questions," Hiei stated coldly.
"Fine. I'll go home, then," said Kuwabara, "We'll get him tomorrow."
"A wise choice," said Hiei, "Tonight we rest."
"Especially you, Hiei. You're a mess," said Yusuke. He climbed onto his bed and sat, "Are you staying here, or—"
"No," Hiei said quickly, "but I'll meet you in the forest clearing where the oni was."
"We better not run into any more of those demons," Yusuke said, shifting uncomfortably. No one seemed to notice that Kuwabara had gone.
"That was just a lower-class shadow beast. It's not what we have to watch out for," Hiei said as he stood up weakly.
A worried look crossed Yusuke's face, "You sure you're in good enough shape?"
"I'm fine, Detective. Don't worry about me. Worry about regaining your own strength. You'll need it." With that, the koorime made his way toward the window that he came through.
Yusuke gave him a strange look, "We have a door, you know…"
"Hn," was all Hiei said, and he was gone.
Morning came again and Yusuke awoke. He stretched and got out of bed. He yawned as he went and got ready to leave the house. He got dressed in a white shirt and a short, blue jacket. He slipped on his blue jeans and his shoes and gelled his hair back. As he walked out the door, he noticed that his mother had finally returned and was dead asleep, curled up in a sleeping bag in front of the television. Yusuke shook his head and walked outside. Kuwabara was there waiting for him, dressed in a white trench-coat sort of thing, the outfit he wore during the last half of the Dark Tournament.
Yusuke nodded to him and began walking. Kuwabara followed and they walked toward the woods again. When they finally made it there, they saw Hiei leaning up against a tree.
SquishKuwabara yelped and began shaking his foot violently.
"What's the matter with you?" Yusuke asked.
"I stepped in demon guts!" Kuwabara wailed as he dragged his foot on the grass.
Yusuke made a face, "Lovely…" He looked around and noticed that there was still some demon remains scattered around. "Yuck…"
Hiei looked up and abandoned his tree to greet the two other Spirit Detectives. He removed his bandana, exposing the Jagan, and the third eye began to glow. "Come on," he said as he began walking deeper into the forest.
"Where are you leading us, Shorty?" Kuwabara asked.
"Where do you think, genius?" Yusuke answered for him, "He's leading us to Kurama. Either that, or this 'Demon Hunter'."
"Very perceptive, Yusuke." Hiei's voice dripped with sarcasm.
"So which one are we going after?" Kuwabara wondered.
"Whichever one comes first," said Hiei, an oddly light tone in his voice.
The three of them walked for a few hours. Hiei, as usual stayed generally silent, Yusuke only spoke a few times, and Kuwabara wouldn't shut up. Hiei was about to scold him when a figure appeared in the distance.
"Is that Kurama? Yeah! Let's go!" Kuwabara said as he began to run.
"No!" Hiei shouted as he tripped him.
Kuwabara let out surprised yell and fell flat on his face. He scrambled to his feet and grabbed Hiei by his collar, "What the Hell is the matter with you? Why'd you trip me, you little—"
"That isn't Kurama," Hiei cut him off, "Don't do anything you might regret."
Kuwabara let him go and glanced back at the mysterious figure. The three boys grouped together and stood still.
"Welcome," said a voice, "I've been expecting you." The figure stepped slowly towards the three.
Yusuke raised his fist slightly, "Stay here, I'll take him."
Hiei threw his arm out to bar Yusuke's path, "Stop. We don't know what he's capable of yet."
Yusuke lowered his fist, "Is that the…?" Hiei nodded. The figure had come very close, close enough for them to get a decent look at it. He was a tall, young-looking man with a thin frame. There was a long, light scar on his right eye that ran down to the middle of his cheek. His hair was fairly short and a little scruffy. It was a deep teal color and he had long bangs that fell on either side of his face. He had soft, silver-gray eyes that easily held one's attention. His attire was fairly simple; a black tunic with black light leather armor covering his chest and shoulders. He wore a long, black sash around his waist and loose-fitting black pants. His boots were of medium length, black, coming to a point at the top, slightly higher than the back. He wore fingerless gloves that were basically the same style as his boots.
He stopped a few yards in front of the Spirit Detectives. The three boys braced themselves, just in case he attacked.
"Who are you?" Yusuke asked. The man gave a twisted smile.
"Me? Oh, I'm no one important," he looked at Hiei, "And how are you doing, koorime? I hope I didn't bloody you up too badly," he said. Hiei grunted.
"Enough chit-chat," Yusuke barked, "Tell me your name!"
The man took another step forward, "My name? Ryoushi, at your service," he said, bowing. He seemed almost innocent.
Yusuke took a step forward, and this time, Hiei didn't hold him back. "Ryoushi, huh? Never heard of ya."
Be careful, Detective… Hiei's voice popped up in Yusuke's head.
Yusuke ignored Hiei's message, "So, we have your name now, but we still don't know who the heck you are," Yusuke said, an arrogant grin creasing his face.
"Who am I?" Ryoushi said with a laugh, "I'm your worst nightmare." He pressed on his gloves above the wrists and long iron claws sprang from them.
"What?" Yusuke gasped. His smile faded. Ryoushi raised one of his fists and charged toward Yusuke and the others. Kuwabara and Hiei dashed on opposite sides and Yusuke narrowly missed the attack.
Hiei unsheathed his katana and closed in on Ryoushi. He leaped up into the air and brought his sword down hard on the Demon Hunter. To his surprise, Ryoushi had easily parried the move with his iron claws. Hiei's eyes widened. He's fast! Ryoushi brought his other claw up, aiming for Hiei's midsection. Hiei moved just quickly enough for the claws to tear through his clothes, barely missing his flesh.
Hiei threw off his black cloak, revealing scars and a few reopened wounds from their last encounter. He raised his blade in front of him, a half defensive and half offensive stance.
"I'm coming, Shorty!" Kuwabara shouted as he charged toward Hiei and Ryoushi.
Hiei turned sharply to look at him, "No," he growled, "This is no time for heroics. You'll die," he stated simply and turned again to his opponent, who seemed to be contemplating another attack.
Kuwabara ignored Hiei's warning and continued his charge. As he got closer to Ryoushi, he let out a battle cry, then shouted, "Spirit… Sword!" An orange energy blade appeared in his hands and he raised it above his head. Ryoushi smiled, seemingly amused with the technique. Kuwabara thrust his Spirit Sword forward in an attempt to slash at Ryoushi's stomach.
"Hm," Ryoushi grunted and stepped lightly to the side and slashed at Kuwabara's chest. The blades of his clawed fist bit deep into Kuwabara's flesh and blood flew from the wound. Kuwabara ran off to the side, clutching his bloodied shirt.
"Kuwabara!" Yusuke yelled. He turned to Ryoushi, who was flicking his friend's blood off his claws in a most sinister fashion.
"I'm all right, Urameshi. I can still fight!" Kuwabara said as he tried to stand.
"Don't be ridiculous," Hiei said coldly, "You're obviously in no shape to go on in this fight. Stay away, heal, and try not to do anything idiotic."
Ryoushi chuckled, "If he's that much of a nuisance, I'll just kill him." He started walking toward Kuwabara, claws raised. Kuwabara stared at him. He tried to get on his feet, but had become too weak to move. He quivered.
"Oh no you don't," Yusuke steamed, "Not if I have anything to say about it!" He charged toward Ryoushi.
Ryoushi ignored him, "Oh please, I'm doing you a favor."
Yusuke spat in Ryoushi's direction, "You bastard! I'll send you straight to Hell!" Soon, Yusuke's foot made contact with Ryoushi's head. Yusuke landed neatly on his feet and assumed a fighting stance. Ryoushi had stopped moving.
The Demon Hunter turned his head toward Yusuke, "You'll regret that," he said as he turned around.
A devilish grin crossed Yusuke's face and he beckoned Ryoushi forth with a hand gesture. Ryoushi growled and struck at Yusuke with his claws. One strike, and then another, both were easily dodged. Yusuke punched Ryoushi in the face and then a few times in his gut. After the assault, Ryoushi held his face in his hand and simply coughed a few times. "You're strong. I'll give you that. But," Ryoushi said softly, "you're still no match for me."
Hiei had been watching silently. He darted behind Ryoushi and slashed his back. Ryoushi shouted in pain as Hiei's blade cut through the leather armor and bit in between his shoulder blades. "Why you miserable little—"
"Now, Yusuke!" Hiei shouted, interrupting Ryoushi's insult.
Yusuke nodded and pointed his index finger at Ryoushi's chest. A light blue aura grew around his finger and he posed for his signature attack. Hiei dashed next to Yusuke so he wouldn't get hit. "Spirit Gun!" Yusuke fired.
"What's this?" said a shocked Ryoushi. He tried to dodge the blast, but was totally unprepared for it. The Spirit Gun nearly made a direct hit.
Yusuke and Hiei waited for a moment for the dust and smoke to clear. Ryoushi's silhouette started to come into sight. Everything cleared, and Ryoushi seemed to be greatly affected by the attack, but not enough.
"Damn," Yusuke said under his breath. Ryoushi looked up and began to walk toward them. His speed picked up a little, and soon after he had come to a run. Hiei and Yusuke braced for an attack, but then Ryoushi stopped a few feet in front of them. All three combatants simply stood for a few moments. Suddenly, Ryoushi began running super-humanly fast circles around them. "What?" Yusuke said and tried to keep up with him.
The two detectives stood back to back and waited for something to happen. After a little while, what seemed to be copies of Ryoushi appeared to be running circles around them, too. "Claws of Infinite Suffering! Let me hear their dying screams!" The voice echoed as if Ryoushi truly was more than one man.
Hiei could almost see through the attack with the Jagan eye, but couldn't figure out how to counter or even dodge. Yusuke didn't have the slightest idea what was going on. "Move, Detective!" Hiei tried to warn him. Both tried to move, but Ryoushi began slashing through them, over and over, spilling their blood like a thousand blades.
Ryoushi finished behind them and heard them both collapse. He turned around to see his victims for a moment, and then turned his back again, "Too bad. You put up such a good fight, too," he said and began to walk away.
"Not… yet…" Yusuke struggled to get up, but couldn't. Hiei was in the same condition, badly beaten, but alive. Ryoushi turned and grinned.
"Still alive? My, my, we are strong!" Ryoushi chuckled, but then he stopped short, "I can fix that." He began walking toward them. Finishing the Spirit Detective and his fire demon friend would be easy. He was about to take them out for good, but something sharp bit into his arm. He winced and pulled it out. It was a razor-sharp leaf. He looked around and saw nothing. He shrugged it off and advanced again. "Now you die," he said quietly, raising his claw.
Before he could strike, something grabbed his wrist, "No, not while I'm here," said a calm, cool voice.
Ryoushi shook free and whirled around. His face went white at what he saw, "N-no," he stammered, "I… I killed you! You… you're dead!"
"You can start counting the minutes until you die," the figure said, "because Youko Kurama is very much alive."
The hunter that forced him to find refuge in the Human Realm has returned. Now Youko Kurama is taking revenge for himself and his fallen comrades. Next chapter, Legendary Bandit Youko Kurama versus Demon Hunter Ryoushi in an epic duel to the death!