Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, but if I did....I wouldn't share Hiei or Kurama (both forms) with anyone!
Chapter Five: Cats and Mouse
Etsuko raced in the dark down the long path that lead to the temple's steps. The air held a bit of uncertainty as she made it to the street below. She stopped and looked up the steps.
"So, that's how they want to play?" Etsuko smirked, "Alright, then it's time to play."
She ran up the street, covering her spirit energy as best as she could, and passed between two houses. Stopping briefly for a quick breath, she continued up a different street, dodging a few random pedestrians. She laughed as she sensed Kurama's spirit energy. He was the closest to her. She ducked behind a tall bush and watched as he came into view. He stopped and looked around him. His eyes squinting in the darkness. Yusuke stepped up next to him.
"She's close by." Kurama spoke, "She's covering her spirit energy rather well."
"She probably doesn't want to be found. I don't blame her for wanting to alone, but she didn't let Genkai finish." Yusuke responded.
Etsuko rolled her eyes at Yusuke's comment. She smiled as they walked away.
"You go that way." Yusuke pointed one way and then to the opposite direction, "I'm going this way. If she's in the area, we'll find her."
She waited a few minutes and cautiously stepped out from her hiding spot. She looked around a bit before running again. This time she ran back towards the temple. She laughed out loud as she realized how close she was to Kuwabara. She snuck up on him. He was oblivious to her approach. She slapped the side of his head, laughed and ran into the forest by the temple's steps.
"Hey!" Kuwabara yelled. He looked around and called out, "Where did you go, Etsuko?"
"Did you see her?" Kurama and Yusuke asked as they neared him.
"I didn't see anything. I heard her laugh and when I turned around she was gone." Kuwabara rubbed the sore part of his recently smacked head, "She slaps pretty hard for a girl."
"It seems she's being a bit playful with us." Kurama spoke softly, "She must know that we are following her."
"Stupid girl! It's getting late and I don't want to play hide and seek with you!" Yusuke yelled. It was quiet for a few moments, until a blue sphere of energy flew up from the trees nearby and crashed before them. It didn't hurt them, but it did send them stumbling backwards for several feet.
"At least we know where she is." Kuwabara admitted and shrugged when Yusuke gave him a cold, piercing glare.
In the forest
She sat against the tree and listened to the sounds around her. The forest was quiet until her three pursuers entered. Two of them walked heavily, the third she knew was Kurama. As she silently rose to her feet she became aware of a fourth person in the forest. She smiled to herself at his closeness. He would find her, no doubt, but she had to prolong her fun just a little longer. She formed another small sphere of spirit energy and set it in the spot she had been sitting and she ran, continuing to hide her energy. The energy she left behind would draw anybody nearby to it while she slipped away to another area.
Sure enough, Kurama and Hiei reached the sphere at the same time. Kurama looked around and Hiei grunted. He didn't want to be out there looking for her. He had better things to be doing with his time. Yusuke and Kuwabara stepped up behind them.
"Where the fuck is she?" Yusuke bellowed. Kurama made a motion for him to be quiet. Off in the distance he could hear her laughing. This only made Yusuke angrier, "Stupid girl! What the hell are you doing?"
She didn't answer and continued to remain stealthy as she slipped past the temple, waved to Botan and Yukina and disappeared into the other part of the forest.
"It's best that we split up." Kurama took off in one direction. Yusuke and Kuwabara went in different directions.
"Hn. What is she trying to prove?" Hiei cursed under his breath before starting off.
Etusko scrambled up a small incline and dodged a small worm demon that had slinked across her path. The little red thing looked at her with his three neon green eyes.
"You remind me of Hiei." she snickered. The worm rose up a bit and turned to face her, "Oh, you think you're tough, eh?"
She formed only one spirit dagger and sliced through the worm youkai, leaving his corpse on the ground as evidence that she had passed be the area. She darted off again and came to a clearing with one tree at the center. She hurried up to it and jumped into the tree, settling herself on one of the branches. The full moon caught her attention. She hadn't realized how beautiful the night had become. With a soft sigh she leaned back and snuggled against the tree.
She could hear Yusuke and Kuwabara complaining. She laughed at them.
"I doubt they think this is funny." Hiei snapped. Etsuko glanced down to the bottom of the tree to find Hiei leaning against it's base.
"Oh, hi, shorty." she said casually and leaned back, "I guess you found me."
"Why are you playing this little game of yours?"
"What game?" she asked and stared down at him with innocent eyes and the pout he hated.
"You are nothing like your mother." he spat and turned his head away.
"You're right. I'm not." Etsuko jumped down from the tree and landed softly beside him. She gazed into his crimson eyes that glowed a bit with the moonlight, "I am more my father's child, than I am my mother's. I can prove it if you like?"
"You are no match for me. That was proven earlier."
"All you proved to me was that you are an arrogant little prick." she reached for her hair and tied it up into a high ponytail, "You have yet to prove to me that you can beat me."
"Are you challenging me?"
"I wouldn't be myself if I didn't." she smirked, "You and your katana against me and my spirit daggers. Don't worry I can handle a few cuts and bruises."
"Are you mad?"
"Are you scared?" she retorted and Hiei narrowed his eyes in frustration, "Come on now, Hiei. You had no problem earlier drawing my blood with that katana. What difference would it make now if you did it again?"
"I can kill you." he said pointedly.
"And I can kill you as well."
"Hn. Fine, but don't say that I didn't warn you." he withdrew his katana with lightning fast speed.
"I consider myself warned." her hands clutched two spirit daggers. They gave each other hard glares and he approached first. He went from being in front of her to being behind her within a second. He pressed the blade of the katana against her throat in the exact same spot it had rested earlier. She laughed and he felt the end of her daggers against his sides. They were pressing just enough to draw a little blood. They both knew that with one thrust the two of them would die. They both pulled their weapons away slowly and he took a few steps back. She turned to face him, did a backflip and barely managed to dodge his katana. His moves were very fast. She concentrated as hard as she could and allowed herself to be slashed across her arm in order to grasp the wrist holding the weapon. She kneed him once in the gut and tightened her grasp on his wrist. He released the katana and swung his fist. She dodged and let go of him. She gave a challenging smirk and began her assault with her fists. He mumbled incoherently as he avoided them all. He could see the frustration building in her eyes. She was weakening and he would take advantage of it. Every punch and kick he blocked with little ease. She was tiring and he appeared behind her, grabbing both of her arms and pulling them behind her back. She struggled and did her best to get free of his hold and they both stumbled backwards, falling to the ground and rolling down part of the hill. As they came to a stop, Hiei was on top of her and Etsuko's hands had grasped his shoulders. He pulled back and glanced down at her. Her head was to the side and in the moonlight he could see the blush that had spread across her cheeks.
"Etsuko?" he said her name quietly.
"Hm?" she didn't look at him.
"Are you badly hurt?" he sounded sincere. She turned her head to face him. Her eyes met with his.
"No, I'm alright." she answered shyly. The blush hadn't left yet and Hiei began to feel uncomfortable. She turned her head away and stared into the forest. Her attention was grasped by the large red flower just barely in her view. She could see the center of it glowing purple.
"Etsuko?" Hiei said her name again. She looked back to him and his face was closer than before. She shook her head and waved to the three boys standing behind them. Hiei grunted again and leapt to his feet. He started to walk away.
"Please, Hiei, don't leave yet." she rose to her feet. Hiei stopped and faced them.
"Etsuko, your arm is bleeding." Kurama approached her and she held her hand out to stop him.
"It's the least of our worries, fox." she turned back to the flower, "That flower we looked at earlier, you remember the one I'm talking about, right?"
"Yes." Kurama nodded. She pointed to the flower and he looked, "Another one? It is glowing."
"I remember now." she replied as she started walking towards the flower. The others followed. Kurama walking next to Etsuko, waiting patiently for her explaination, "It is called Demon Eyes."
Kurama thought for a few seconds before the realization sunk in. His head snapped and he looked at her.
"It's watching us!" he exclaimed. The others looked at him in shock.
"Yes, and I doubt my mother put them out here to watch the demons in the forest."
"Then that would mean that someone else put them here." Kuwabara spoke up and she nodded. She turned to Yusuke.
"What exactly did my mother mean to tell me?" she crossed her arms over her chest, "You know why I am here, don't you?"
"I don't know much." he stated, "All the old hag told me was that your father is in a mess and people are looking for you."
"Well, I think they found me." she retorted and formed a ball of energy in her hand. She tossed it at the flower and it exploded into nothing, "We should head back for the night. I am feeling a bit tired and dizzy. I feel like I've been running forever."
"We watched your fight with Hiei. It wasn't too bad." Yusuke laughed. Etsuko gave a faint smile and slowly dropped to the ground.
"Woah, hey are you alright?" Yusuke knelt next to her, "Huh, she's out cold. Poor thing. Hiei, you totally wore her out."
"She shouldn't have challenged me." he scooped her into his arms and carried her bridal style, "It's my fault she's out cold. I'll carry her back to the stupid temple."
"You two were pretty cozy there for a while, Hiei." Yusuke smirked at the disgruntled look Hiei shot at him. Hiei turned and took off into the trees, leaving his friends behind him to wonder.
He felt very uncomfortable carrying her like this, especially since she was still wearing the same skirt from earlier in the day. The piece of fabric barely covered her thighs. He felt her adjust a bit and cuddle into his chest. Her arms had found their way around his neck where they held onto him securely. He frowned and blushed. Shaking his head he regained his senses. He landed gently at the door to the temple and carried her inside. Genkai met him in the hallway.
"Is she alright?" she asked and Etsuko opened her eyes.
"I'm fine." she replied quietly. Hiei looked down at her.
"How long have you been awake?" he asked and her blue eyes gazed sleepily into his crimson ones.
"A few moments. I swear." she said innocently, "Please don't drop me."
"Hn." he set her down carefully and she removed her arms from his neck, "You should be careful next time and not fight something you know you cannot beat."
As he walked away she stuck her tongue out at him and then crossed her arms over her chest before turning to Genkai.
"We have a problem and you know what is going on." she began, "Tell me why my father is in a mess. Why are people looking for me? Are you aware that the forest around the temple has Demon Eyes?"
"Let's deal with one question at a time." Genkai motioned to the other room, "We will discuss everything as long as you promise not to run off again."
"Yeah, I promise." Etsuko sighed, "I'm sorry about that. Well, not completely sorry. I got to run and trick the boys into a game of cat and mouse. There were a few close calls, but in the end Hiei found me."
"I take it the laceration on you arm is from him?"
"I couldn't pass up the chance to challenge him. I am just happy he didn't use all of his energy against me. He was holding back, but he was still way better than myself."
"Please sit, Etsuko." Genkai motioned to the pillow on the ground next to the small table, "Kyo sent you here because of a demon that found out who exactly you are. Your father is strong, Etsuko, but he would've died protecting you. That is why you are here. That is why Yusuke and the others are here."
"Some stupid demon knows that I am your daughter? Why don't they come to confront me?" Etsuko asked as she sat down, "I mean, I won't hesitate to fight him."
"He's stronger than Hiei. If you couldn't keep up with him, this one would kill you much faster." Genkai sat down as well, "That is not likely his reason to catch you though. He hates Kyo. They fought each other once, many years ago. Your father used his wit and was able to out smart the demon. It is possible he wishes to take you into his possession to draw your father and myself out."
"Is it possible for him to have others working with him?"
"Yes, I suppose it is possible. However, the Demon Eyes in the forest, they propose a problem. Whomever planted them there, was fast, strong and now knows that we are not here alone."
"I suggest that tomorrow we fill the boys in on what is really going on. It's not fair that they don't know the real purpose to their visit to the temple." Etsuko gave and angry grunt, "My father's former enemy wants revenge and wants to use me to draw my father out to fight him. Why won't my father just fight him? He beat him once, can't he do it again?"
"Kyo is much weaker than the demon now. He would not stand a chance even if he used his wits." Genkai replied and looked up to her daughter, "I promised him that we would protect you and perhaps we will be the ones to defeat his enemy."
"I am not suited to fight such a tough battle. Hiei is stronger than me. Kurama is faster. Undoubtedly Yusuke is way stronger than me. Hell, even Kuwabara is probably stronger than me." Etsuko laid back onto the floor, "I had no idea that I was so weak."
"You are just like your father." Genkai chuckled and Etsuko gave her a confused glare.
"And how is that?"
"You both use your wits to win battles. How else would you have been able to pummel Yusuke when they showed up? Or even trick the boys on the rock?" Genkai raised her eyebrow, "You used your brain and knew how to take two of them down before they even knew what happened. You also managed to get Kurama into the water without him knowing how it happened."
"That works, I guess."
"Don't guess!" Genkai snapped, "Just know that you can use your brain to trick others around you. How long did it take for them to find you? You left here well over an hour ago."
"I get it." Etsuko sat up, "You don't have to bite my head off. I have to go bandage my arm now. I'm afraid my blood is staining your floor and I'm feeling a little queasy. Goodnight, mom."
"Goodnight, Etsuko."
She exited the room and was met by Hiei. He gave her a hard glare. She continued walking, ignoring him and he followed. She knew he would. She stopped in front of her bedroom door and turned to confront him.
"I'll tell you tomorrow, Hiei." she stated. He didn't say anything, "Earth to shorty! I said..."
He pushed her abruptly to the door. She stared into his crimson eyes, confused by his sudden need to be close to her. She tried to slide to the side, but he kept her in place by grasping her arms. She growled at the pain from her wound and she gave him and evil, furious stare. He chuckled a bit, which she found to be a tiny bit odd that he had any type of laugh. She could feel her blood dripping down her arm, gathering at her fingers and pooling on the floor below.
"Etsuko?" his voice was husky and she gave a nervous giggle. He was not acting like the Hiei she expected him to be. He was supposed to be mean and rude an snide. This was not Hiei!
"My arm is bleeding all over the place. I need to take care of it now." she pushed him back as best as she could and he let her go, "Look, if there is something you wish to discuss with me, we can always talk in my room, but I need to do something about this gash before I lose all of my blood."
"Hn." his cold harsh manner had returned. He walked away, leaving her to be curious at just what the hell he was going to do.
A/N: I know I said it would be at least a week, but to my happy surprise...there was a computer that I could work at! This makes my vacation just that much better! Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!! Peace, quiet and a computer!!!
