It was the third park Hiei checked before he found anything. A psychic scent of demon and whiff of spent terror led him to a low lying tree. As he approached the tree a loud growl sounded from a near by bench.
It had matted brown fur and feral eyes. The rabid dog charged Hiei intent on blood. It landed with two distinct meaty thumps as Hiei cleansed his katana rid of the diseased blood. With a nimble leap he landed in the tree,
almost landing on top of last missing ningen child. The boy stared at the sky through the branches of the tree with unseeing eyes. He was covered in scratches and stunk of piss from when he had wet himself. A cursory sniff
taught Hiei three things. One, the scratches were done by a demon and not the rabid dog. Two, though not completely destroyed, his soul had been almost completely consumed. Like the last dredges of a milk shake, the demons
couldn't quite get the last drops. Three, Hiei would never voluntarily sniff another human child again. His nose protesting, Hiei picked the child up and speed off.
Several blocks away two patrol men were astounded to find the unconscious and smelly little child tucked in the back seat of their patrol car.
The chime of his communicator brought Kurama from his single minded search. Opening it he was surprised to see a rare serious expression on the overly happy deity of death, Botan.
"Kurama, me and Koenma just heard about your little brother. We've dedicated almost all of our resources in the search to find him. However, while we were searching we found some disturbing signs of demonic auras in
his direct vicinity." As Botan talked, the warmth faded from Kurama's eyes, leaving only the iron willed rose warrior.
"It appears he's being escorted by a young woman. They are safe for now but the demons are getting braver. Get to your old high school as soon as possible! We've already let the others know so hurry"
"Thanks Botan." Kurama ran.
Alex's eyes were beginning to blur from the cold. It was impossible for it to be this cold in Tokyo even in the dead of winter. Her breath fogged with every weary pant. Suuichi wasn't doing well at all. She had tried to keep him awake by asking about his family, (which consisted of the world's best mother and a elder brother who could walk on water), but it was no good. So instead she had gotten enough directions to know where his street was before he passed out from fatigue and cold. Suddenly shaking her head violently and spitting to rid of the unbearable taste in her mouth Alex froze. With absolute surety she knew something was terribly not right. Shadows were stretching towards her and the unconscious boy. Hungry whispers rode the faint wind bringing words of death and madness. Eyes glinted in the dark and vague outlines of something took shape. In her terror Alex noted they were staying away from the lighted areas of the street. Something cold and foul and sharp wrapped around her ankle. With a defiant cry she kicked out, catching a misshapen face which was leering at her. The tentacle ripped free and Alex ran faster then she ever could before to reach the lighted courtyard of the high school.
Breath burning in her lungs Alex was only yards away from the safety of light when she was tripped up by a demon. Suuichi went flying, bouncing unpleasantly on the concrete into the center of light. Alex gasped as the
demon twisted and bit into her thigh. Muscles trembling she thrust her thumbs into its eyes and bounced its head hard against the white concrete. It made a sound like a melon being dropped. She rolled over its prone body into
the light not caring if it was dazed or dead. Crawling to Suuichi, she cradled him to her body. The first stone thrown from the darkness struck Alex in the back. The second stone narrowly missed her face. Lost in her pain and
terror Alex didn't notice her anger growing until suddenly she screamed her defiance. Standing she reached out and ripped off a branch from a nearby tree in the courtyard. She placed Suuichi at her feet and squared her shoulders.
The third stone she missed and it struck her in the ribs just under her breast. She had a homerun on the fourth stone though as it ricocheted and struck a demon who squealed in pain. Stone five wasn't thrown at her but one of two
of the courtyard lights. Stone six shattered it, showering the courtyard with broken glass. Stone seven dropped Alex as it glanced off her temple. With her last cognitive thought, Alex rolled on top of Suuichi, trying to protect
him from whatever horrors awaited them as she passed out.
Yusuke was just rounding the last block towards the high school when he saw Kurama heading towards him.
"Do you feel it"
"Yeah, lots and lots of demons. Good thing they really low class." Yusuke acknowledged. Just then a female scream of pain rang out. Grimly they ran faster.
Kuwabara was the first to reach the courtyard. He arrived just to see the girl taken down by the stone, still clutching her make shift bat. Reaching deep within his aura, he called forth his Spirit Sword.
"Sword get longer!" He commanded and the last light exploded.
Lost in her pain, Alex began to hallucinate. She dreamt she saw an orange haired teenager create a sword from the center of his hand. Another teen with black hair began to fire brilliant balls from his finger. Any demon who
came in contact with either disintegrated. An inhumanly handsome man held in his hand one moment a rose, then a whip. Then lastly a shorter man in black drew his sword and disappeared. He reappeared seconds latter across the court
yard and all the demons in a straight line fell into quivering chunks. Shrieks and curses lit the air and the metallic scent of blood was choking her. Alex could feel her own warm blood trickling down the side of her face. She woke
again as the courtyard fell silent. Forcing her eyes open she saw the four men approaching her and Suuichi. There was no signs of their weapons or even anything out of the ordinary. Distantly she wondered what had happened to her club.
Not that it really mattered, she couldn't even grip it any longer. Suuichi gave a murmur as he began to waken. Opening his eyes he smiled sleepily.
"Hi Kurama." He then fell back asleep. Alex watched as Kurama tenderly leaned over and removed Suuichi from her numb grasp. He reached out and gently touched the side of her face.
"Thank you." A frown marred his perfect face though as he realized his
hand was covered in blood. Alex's blood. The world went black.