A/N: Nothing to say. Read and review!
13. Into the Spirit World – Strategy Before Assault
Finally, it was morning, and the ragtag team of demons and Kuwabara awoke to begin their assault on Spirit World. Kuwabara was still upset and was grumbling loudly and obnoxiously while the group ate breakfast. Eventually, Reishi and Koto whacked him over the head with a randomly-placed crowbar, and that shut him up.
All through the morning, Jiusenki boasted about how brilliant his plot to take over the three worlds was and how great it was that everything was going to plan. Koto and Reishi acted as if nothing had happened between them last night. There was no hint of a plotted betrayal between them, and Jiusenki ate up their vigorous nods and servile responses of, "Yes, you're brilliant, Jiusenki!" without question.
Only Hiei could sense that something was up between them. He could see, even without his Jagan, that the two girls were anxious and tense about something. They put up a good façade, but Hiei wasn't fooled. He didn't question them, though, as whatever they had planned would reveal itself in good time – not to mention Hiei didn't care, either…
"All right, time's a-wasting," Jiusenki barked suddenly midway through the morning. "Let's get going to Spirit World…"
Reishi conjured the portal to Reikai, while Koto and Jiusenki dragged Kuwabara into the living room where the portal was being summoned. Everything was ready now… It's finally time for me to become ruler of Makai! thought Jiusenki happily, a large grin failing to keep itself from spreading across his ugly visage.
The group stepped into the portal, one by one, into Reikai. The group breathed in the peaceful atmosphere of the Spirit World, watching as all of Koenma and King Yama's servants and ogre slaves bustled around, carrying papers, tripping over their own large feet, flying through the air on oars. The air was thick with the scent of cherry blossoms, and pink clouds overhead floated by lazily, giving the team of five a welcome invitation – an invitation to destroy.
Hiei walked slowly away from the rest of the group, hands shoved in his pockets, and stalked over to a large rock formation. "Hey! Where you goin'?" Koto asked, whipping herself around.
"Yeah! Get back here!" Jiusenki growled. "You're supposed to be helping us!"
"Hn. I don't want to be seen and arrested when I just got here. If you were smart, you'd stay out of the open too," Hiei replied, making himself invisible to passersby as he stood behind the giant rock.
"Oh… right!" Koto said, and she pranced over to Hiei, Reishi and Jiusenki (who had Kuwabara slung over his shoulder like a rag doll) following close behind.
"All right, let's begin our battle attack," Jiusenki whispered, bringing his head in for a group huddle.
"No, wait," said Reishi, choosing her words carefully. She couldn't leave any hints that she was planning a betrayal behind her master's back, so she had to speak with caution. "I don't think we should start our attack just yet…"
"What? We're here, aren't we?" Jiusenki hissed, his face flushed red with agitation. "Why not?"
"I just don't think it's a smart idea to attack in broad daylight, that's all," Reishi replied calmly. "Perhaps we should wait until early tomorrow morning? Nobody would suspect anything at the crack of dawn."
"Hm… I guess you're right," Jiusenki mused, stroking his chin with his giant fingers. "But we could've done that today if some people didn't take so long to make breakfast!" He glared at Koto.
"What? I like scrambled eggs, so what!" Koto argued indignantly, putting her hands on her hips. "It's not my fault that you got up so late!"
"Children, please," Reishi said sarcastically, putting up her hands to stop the argument. Jiusenki and Koto stopped, both sporting classic anger veins in their temples. "Thank you," the psychic continued. "Now, I think we should scope out the area today to give us an idea of what we're up against—"
"Not much…" muttered Jiusenki.
"Right," said Reishi, frowning. "I still think we should check it out just in case. But we must be careful not to be seen! That is vital to our mission." I must make this sound convincing… Reishi was doing such a good job covering up her plot of betrayal that Koto was even giving her a confused look as to ask if Reishi was still planning it. Reishi gave her a quick, reassuring, sideways glance, however, and she knew that the plan was still on.
"Good thinking, Reishi," Jiusenki said brusquely. "We'll meet back here tonight to discuss our strategy for Reikai's annihilation. Let's split up into groups and scope out the area. Report anything when we meet back here tonight at…" Jiusenki checked his watch. "Nine o'clock. Koto, Kuwabara, and I will take the northern and eastern parts of Reikai; Hiei, Reishi, and the soul-carrier will take the south and western parts." Jiusenki handed Killer to Reishi, who gave it to Hiei, since he seemed to like the obnoxious little fluffball so much. "All right, move out!"
The groups set off in different directions, scoping out the area. Reishi wasn't taking in any of the scenery and danger-spots of Reikai. She was too busy thinking about her betrayal… Hiei could sense her thinking deeply and not concentrating on their task to scope out the area, but, as usual, he said nothing. Why should I care what that girl is thinking? He held Killer in the crook of his left arm and stroked its head with his two fingers and thought, Finally. The end of the world is truly coming… I can hardly wait…
It was past nine o'clock now, and the group had finished discussing their battle strategy. Jiusenki had come up with some odd "We blow up the main building, then set everybody under our mind control to kill each other" kind of tactic that everybody except Jiusenki thought was absolutely foolish. Hiei wasn't about to argue with it, however. He planned to destroy Reikai in his own way, no matter what. He wasn't going to take orders from some half-wit dragon! Kuwabara wasn't about to complain, as he didn't fully understand his plan to begin with, and neither Koto or Reishi complained, since they were about to betray Jiusenki anyway.
But the teams had retreated to bed in tents that they had pitched – Koto, Reishi, and Jiusenki in one tent, and Kuwabara, Hiei, and Killer in another. Jiusenki, Reishi, and Koto had let the two of them have Killer for the night. "They are never going to crack the soul-releasing code I have on him, anyway," Reishi had assured them.
Kuwabara was holding Killer, trying not to get pecked to death and trying to break the soul-releasing code on him. He wasn't getting very far, as the bird kept trying to scratch his eyes out and bite his fingers off. Hiei let him do it though; it was amusing, and being bored was not something Hiei was fond of, so he decided to just watch the human get riddled full of holes from the soul-carrying bird.
"Ugh! Stupid – augh! – bird!" Kuwabara shouted, shaking Killer up and down only to receive an angry shriek and bite in return. "All right! All right! I give up!" Kuwabara tossed Killer across the room, where Hiei caught it and began absentmindedly petting it. Killer made a little purring noise as Hiei gently stroked it, giving Kuwabara the evil eye that made him cross his arms and snort indignantly.
"Don't know why that dumb bird likes you so much!" Kuwabara scowled. "Usually animals don't go for evil, short, psycho freak-demons who agree to destroy the Human and Spirit Worlds!"
"Yes, well, maybe Killer just doesn't like ugly people," Hiei replied calmly. "Not ugly, stupid, weakling humans with less brains than an amoeba."
"What? Why I oughta!" Kuwabara got his traditional ugly "how dare you!" look on his face and shoved his fist in Hiei's face. "I'm about this close to knockin' the brains outta you, so you'd better shut up before I kill you, you little runt!"
"As if you could kill me… Just the thought of that makes me want to laugh."
"Then laugh, why don't you!" Kuwabara shouted.
"Hn. Shut up, baka…" Their game was getting un-amusing now. Hiei gave him a warning glare, and Kuwabara shut up. Hiei exhaled loudly and went back to petting Killer, leaving Kuwabara to sulk against the canvas.
A few minutes later, there was a rustling of the flap on their tent. "Hey! Wh-who's there?" Kuwabara hissed. "Get outta here!"
"Shh! It's me!" It was Reishi. Kuwabara blinked stupidly, and Reishi let herself in, sitting on her knees in front of Hiei and Kuwabara. "Be quiet, and listen carefully. I have something important I have to tell you."
Hiei raised an eyebrow. This must be what was bothering her all day… he thought.
"I have been planning a betrayal on Jiusenki," Reishi started.
"A betrayal?" Kuwabara questioned. "You mean you're going to go against Jiusenki?"
"That's what 'betrayal' means," Hiei interrupted curtly.
"You shut up, punk!"
Reishi quickly informed them on her plan. Koto had entered the main Reikai building to give Koenma the heads-up on what was going on. Kuwabara and Hiei agreed to help them betray the dragon.
"The world doesn't deserve to end like this!" Kuwabara stated nobly, striking a "save the world" pose. "Jiusenki needs to be brought down! I'll help you for sure!"
"Hn… Well, I liked the idea of no humans on Earth," Hiei said, "but I don't like Jiusenki that much, and I don't approve of him becoming the so-called 'ruler of Makai'. I guess I will 'help' you."
"Good," Reishi said. "We are going to begin the act at six o'clock tomorrow morning. Now get to sleep!" Reishi exited through the tent flap, leaving Hiei and Kuwabara alone in the darkness.
"Well, I guess everything will turn out okay!" Kuwabara said, grinning.
"Shut up. Just because things are looking up for the humans for once doesn't mean I'm in a good mood, so leave me alone if you know what's good for you." Hiei laid down on his blanket and turned away from Kuwabara to show that he didn't want to talk anymore. Killer snapped his beak ferociously at Kuwabara, then curled up beside Hiei and fell asleep.
"Hmph. For saving the world, he doesn't sound to happy…"
NEXT TIME – RELEASE AND BETRAYAL – FINAL ATTACK!
--crazykitsune17--