Disclaimer: It's the same. They're not mine, never will be.

Chapter Ten: Naizen's Control

His hand grazed over the base of her neck and across her bare shoulder. She was more than he had imagined. He would enjoy using this little beauty to bring about the demise of his rival Kyo, the psychic Genkai and the damned Spirit Detectives that had gotten themselves involved. They would all pay for their insolence. In the end, he would make sure she met the same fate as the others. Until then he would savor the moments and wait patiently for the confrontation.

Naizen stalked the halls of his compound searching for the demon that had brought the young woman to him without being seen by anyone. The man-bat demon stood silently in a room with a few other followers of the powerful Naizen Arishima. The group bowed as Naizen entered.

"Baldok, I have come to personally thank you for your help this evening. Without your knowledge of the psychic's forest, this might not have been possible." Naizen gave an eerie smile and everyone around him remained silent. Naizen rarely smiled.

"It was nothing, my lord." Baldok kept his eyes averted, "I just wish to see Yusuke Uremeshi suffer."

"Yes, of course. You were once beaten by him in Genkai's forest. Rest assured, Baldok, this Yusuke Uremeshi will get exactly what he deserves." Naizen turned his back on the group.

"Thank you, my lord." Baldok bowed again.

"Oh, yes. There was one more thing." Naizen's claws extended longer and he turned to face the blue man-bat, "I have no further use for you weakling."

Naizen's claws pierced through the throat of the Baldok. Baldok's eyes widened as death crept upon him quickly. His eyes searched for answers in Naizen's steely black ones, but found nothing. Naizen let the body slide from his claws, enjoying the feel of the demon's blood dripping from his own fingers as he watched the remains crumple to the floor. He motioned for the others in the room to hurry and clean the mess or else they'd join him. He turned and exited. He had a lot of work that needed to be accomplished, but would have to wait until after his meeting with his generals.

"Naizen, I see things are going according to plan." a tall and slender female ogre sat to his right. His eyes gazed at hers and he nodded.

"I have her here at the compound and Baldok has been taken care of as well." Naizen began, "I sent out the challenge just shortly after, adding a lock of her precious hair to prove that he failed to protect her."

"Wonderful news then." the female smirked, "What of the others? They will come to fight as well, right?"

"Yes, definitely. I am sure that Kyo will confront them after he receives the challenge. Let's just hope that Kyo doesn't send them instead of going himself. I hate when weak and pathetic fools back down from a fight. If he doesn't come, I'll just slit the girl's throat and leave her lying on his doorstep."

"Hmm, too bad we couldn't do that anyway. I'd love to see her blood."

"You will in time." Naizen glanced at the four other generals in the room and began, "This is how things will go if Genkai and the others decide to tag along. We will station the weaker soldiers in the front. No doubt they will be slaughtered, but no one really cares about low class demons anyway. After the main gate, should they get through and it's very likely, Tomo and Naoko will be the first round the need to contend with." Naizen pointed to the female next to him and to a shorter, green frog demon across the table.

"Aww, the first round?" Naoko smiled playfully, "But that would leave the rest of you with nothing."

"Should they get through, Reijiro and Arata will be round two." Naizen motioned to the two wolf demon brothers standing in the back of the room, "If they get past that, then I will gladly step up to take them down."

"Should they get past me and Tomo, they will never make it past the wolf brothers." Naoko smiled and twirled her ruby-red hair between her fingers, "It's almost too easy."

"Yes, all we will do now is wait for word from Kyo." Naizen rose, "You are all dismissed."

He walked back to the room he had left Etsuko in. His maids had already bathed the girl and changed her into attire more to his liking. He lightly ran his finger over her throat and down into the valley between her breasts. He slid one finger against the black leather encasing the soft mounds of flesh within. Perhaps before her tragic and most certain death he'd uncover what secrets she was hiding beneath.

He continued to admire the black leather she now adorned. Her father would be shocked to see his baby girl dressed so provocatively. The thoughts were enough to make Naizen smile.

The two maids scurried into the room and kept their eyes averted to the floor while Naizen was in the room. He stood and approached them.

"Take her to the throne room and make sure she is chained tightly to my throne. See that the cuffs are done tightly so she won't be able to use any of her spirit energy. If anything is done wrong, I'll kill you." Naizen waved them off and they hurried to carry Etsuko from the room.

At the temple

"Where the hell were you?" Yusuke yelled at the group standing before them, "How could she have just disappeared?"

"I came up to check on her just shortly after you guys took off. By then she was already gone." Touya shook his head, "I have to go tell her father. Botan, is there any way to get me there quicker?"

"Yes, of course. I'll take you myself." Botan frowned and turned to Genkai, "I'll stop by to see Koenma as well. I'm sure he can help."

"Thank you, Botan. You too, Touya. Please be safe." Genkai nodded, "Botan, you should take Yukina with you and have her wait with Koenma. It's too dangerous for her to stay here."

"Right." Botan opened a portal in the middle of the room and motioned for Touya and Yukina to follow her. Once they were gone, all the others could was wait.

"We can't just stand here doing nothing! We have to find her!" Kuwabara's fist connected with the wall for the fourth time in the past ten minutes.

"I agree!" Yusuke stalked to the window and stared out into the darkness, "They couldn't have gotten too far."

"We will wait for word from Koenma." Genkai snapped, "We are not sure exactly where she's been taken and hopefully either Koenma or Kyo will let us know what's going on."

"I hate waiting!" Yusuke yelled.

"Shut up, Yusuke. You're voice is starting to irritate me." Hiei stopped his pacing to glare at Yusuke.

"What's with you? We need to save her! You know she can't defend herself right now!"

"I said shut up!" Hiei slammed Yusuke hard into the wall and then stalked angrily from the room. Kurama sighed heavily and watched him go.

"You can't leave, Hiei. Please be patient until Botan returns." Kuwabara pleaded and Hiei growled at him.

"Do you think I'm going to take off and go find her on my own?" Hiei looked back at the ape. He could do it, he knew he could. If only Koenma would let him into Makai, then he'd slaughter Naizen and his followers and rescue her all on his own. Hiei stared at the floor. Why the hell would he put so much effort into saving a human girl whose father was the cause of all the problems? He shook his head. It wasn't his fight really. It was Kyo's. That thought didn't sit well with the fire demon at all and he growled again.

"You have been known to do things like that." Yusuke retorted, annoyed with Hiei.

"Yusuke, that's enough!" Genkai yelled.

"It's alright, Genkai. Let him run his mouth. It's the only thing he's good at."

"Say that to my face shorty!" Yusuke bellowed and charged for the demon.

"Please, Yusuke. This is not the time to be fighting amongst ourselves." Kurama held Yusuke back, "Just calm down and relax. We need to focus now to help Etsuko."

A portal opened and Botan stepped out followed by a teenage Koenma. All eyes fell upon the pair and the room grew very silent.

"What's the deal?" Kuwabara had to break the silence. It was getting on his nerves.

"She's at Naizen's compound in Makai. Apparently when no one was looking, Baldok snuck in and took Etsuko." Koenma replied and put his hand up to stop everyone from speaking, "I know this because Baldok ended up in Spirit World and explained what had happened. He trusted Naizen, and in turn, Naizen killed him."

"The fool got what he deserved then." Genkai stepped closer to Koenma, "Anything else? We really should get going to Makai."

"Not until we visit Kyo." Koenma looked to the psychic, "He got a message not too long ago. Touya is already there and they are awaiting your arrival now. Kyo knows he cannot do this alone."

"Then he should have killed Naizen when he had the chance." Yusuke snapped angrily. His voice so stern that Botan jumped from it.

"I agree with you, Yusuke, but unfortunately Kyo is a good person and has never killed in his entire life. This time I'm afraid it's different and we're going to have to assist him."

"Fine! Can we go already? You know I'm not big with waiting!"

"Yes yes, Yusuke." Koenma motioned to Botan and she once again opened a portal. Yusuke walked in first followed by the others.

Kyo's Home Inside

Touya sat across from Kyo and Misao. Both of them were visibly shaken by the turn of events. Misao desperately clung to the lock of Etsuko's pink hair that was sent along with the message. Tears spilled onto her already tear-stained face. Kyo just held her hand and stared at the table. He was at a loss for words. He was beating himself up inside. How could he have put her through such a mess? It was his entire fault and now he needed help to fix it. All he could do was hope that they'd be willing. He knew Genkai and Touya would be, but he doubted that the three of them would be much against Naizen. They needed more and a certain group of spirit detectives was the definite answer.

Misao sobbed softly and Kyo put his arm around her. It was the only comfort he could give for now. With luck, things would go smoothly and things would return to normal.

"If it helps, I believe they'll be willing." Touya spoke quietly, "Kurama and Kuwabara have become good friends with Etsuko. They won't let Naizen hurt her. I'm sure Yusuke will go along with it and Hiei, well, I'm very certain that Hiei will go, if he hasn't gone already."

Kyo nodded at Touya's reassuring words. Misao seemed to relax slightly. Touya was always good at getting his wife and daughter to relax with his soft words.

"This Hiei guy, he's strong, huh?" Misao gave a small smile.

"Yeah, he's very strong." Touya nodded, "He can probably wipe out more than half of Naizen's followers on his own."

"Wow that is strong." Misao looked out the window, "I hope he'll help rescue her."

"I'm sure he will, Misao. There is definitely something going on between him and Etsuko. I don't think either one realizes it, but I know Kurama sees it as well as myself."

"Good." Misao smiled again and motioned to the front yard, "We have company."

"It looks like Koenma is gracing us with his appearance." Touya stood to answer the door.

"Master Genkai, I am glad to see you again." Misao bowed respectfully as Genkai walked into the house, "Please, all of you, make yourselves at home."

"Thank you, Misao." Genkai smiled politely and took a seat at the table across from her friend, "Kyo."

"I know. This is my fault. You don't have to say it." Kyo raised his eyes to gaze at Genkai and then at the group that had accompanied her. Hiei recognized where Etsuko got her eyes from. Kyo's were the same color, but Etsuko's sparkle was definitely absent from her father's eyes.

"Shut up fool. Nobody has put the blame on you." Genkai stared at Kyo.

"How am I supposed to challenge, Naizen? I'm too old and slow now. Etsuko is as good as dead because of me."

Hiei growled angrily at Kyo's choice of words. There was no way he was letting Etsuko die because of this old guy and his lack of confidence.

"By all means, sir, we can handle Naizen on our own. You'll just need to accompany us." Kurama stepped forward sensing Hiei's growing frustration. He wanted to put his friend at ease.

"Are you sure you want to do this? What if you die?"

"Then you and Etsuko will die as well." Hiei spat, his eyes full of anger and hatred.

"You don't sound very confident in yourself."

"You are not one to talk."

"Hiei's right. Just lead us to Naizen's compound and let us take care of the hard stuff. It's been awhile since we had a good fight anyway." Yusuke cracked his knuckles then his neck, "Yeah, I'm sure we can get in and bring her back safe and sound, old man. Don't you worry about it."

"I'm going with you." Touya spoke up, "She's my best friend and I'll be damned if I'm not there to help save her."

"It seems like you have a crew organized. Botan, you will assist them." Koenma sighed, "Naizen's compound is a complex building not unlike the castle the Saint Beasts had. You should know that aside from Naizen, there are four demons that are referred to as Naizen's generals. They are a particularly strong group and I'm sure you'll run into them. One of them is a toad demon, then there is a set of wolf demons who are brothers and the last is a female ogre. Please be careful and hurry back safely. I'll have the portal drop you off about half a mile from the front gate."

"Thank you, Koenma." Genkai rose from the seat and looked over each of the boys, "Are you dimwits ready to go? Do you have everything you need?"

"I think we're all set, Genkai." Kurama answered and the rest nodded.

"Good. It's time to leave, Kyo. We'll give you a few moments to talk with Misao alone. Please be quick though."

Genkai exited the house with the others behind her. She closed her eyes as a sob escaped Misao's lips. She knew there was a chance her husband would never return home to her, but she knew he had to save Etsuko.

A few short moments later Kyo joined them in the front yard. Koenma opened the portal and wished the people walking through the best of luck. They were going to need it.