A/N: Short chapter. But perhaps you're used to that by now. -- Please review!

10. The Search Begins – A Stroke of Luck for the Antagonists
Jiusenki, Koto, and Reishi (both apprentices now conscious) had left the dragon demon's underground fortress in Makai and were now prowling around the barren Human World. When Koto had come to, Jiusenki had asked her if she had at least put tracking devices on Hiei and Kuwabara. She hadn't, and that caused an uproar… Jiusenki was not happy, to say the least…
"You have the fire demon and the redhead tagged, at least, don't you?" Jiusenki had asked Koto.

"Huh?"

"Tagged – put tracking devices on them."

"Uh… no… Was I supposed to?"

"IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE, KOTO! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THEM TAGGED!"

"I'm sorry, sir!"

With no other choice, the villains had ventured into the Ningenkai to search for the only two men left on earth. One would think that the two would be easy to spot as they were the only ones left, but quite to the contrary, it was like finding a needle in a haystack. Though there were no people, planet Earth was relatively huge. They could be anywhere!

Reishi was walking behind Jiusenki and Koto, a small, pentagonal-shaped device held in her hands. The device seemed to be something like a radar system, and Reishi was studying it intently. The other two ahead of her didn't seem to notice that she was staring at the object that could help them.

"This way," Reishi said after a while, pointing north in direction.

"What?"

"We should go this way."

"Why?" asked Jiusenki impatiently. "Did you put tracking devices on them?"

"Not Kuwabara and Hiei, no," Reishi said. "But I did attack a miniature tracking system on the soul-carrier."

"How's that gonna help us find the fire demon and the redhead?" Jiusenki growled

"It may not help us find them, exactly," Reishi explained patiently, "but at least we can get the soul-carrier back once we pinpoint its location."

"Oh, good idea, Reishi!" crowed Koto.

Reishi led the two through the streets of the Tokyo suburbs, following the radar tracking device and pointing out directions occasionally. They were starting to get closer and closer to the little bird… Finally, after several hours of walking ("Are we there yet?" Koto complained. "I'm tired… and hungry…"), Reishi's tracking device started beeping – they had found the soul-carrier.

"It is here," Reishi said, pointing at a half-demolished house ahead of them – Kuwabara's house. "Let's go in and find it."

"Right!"

Jiusenki kicked down the door to the front of the house and tramped inside with a mighty roar. Koto and Reishi followed, and Koto gasped when she saw who was inside – the wanted men: Kuwabara and Hiei.

"Well, well, what luck," Reishi said unemotionally. "It seems we have found all of our targets all in one spot…"

"Wha? Huh? Who's there?" Kuwabara shouted, waving his hands about blindly, nearly smacking Hiei in the face. "Who is it?"

The tall dragon demon broke out into a devilish grin. "Hello. I am Jiusenki, and I have an offer to make you two…"

NEXT TIME – KILL OR BE KILLED!
Reviewer Responses!

Jessica – Hey, you said something other than your usual 8 words. :) You'll just have to see what happens to Killer. And Hiei and Kuwabara, for that matter… Thanks for the review!

Izandria Johnson – Thanks. That was one of my personal favorite chapters as well. ;) Thanks very much for the review!

--crazykitsune17--