Hmmmmm…. This is weird. I am almost done with the story, it makes me really, really………………………………………………………..happy! I am severely losing interest and can't wait for it to be done, just kidding, I just never completed anything before, but on the serious side writing is definitely not my thing. I don't even remember why I did it, I think it was because I came to the conclusion that I couldn't draw… but hell I can't write either. Hey has anyone else noticed the large amount of snow we ended up getting? That ticked me off because I was supposed to go out with my friend, her cousin, and her cousin's boyfriend… we were all supposed to go to the movies and out to eat but due to the snow the trip was canceled. But a good thing came of this! I took my money that was supposed to be for the ticket and dinner and bought some mangas! I got Love Hina 11 and 12 and decided to try A.I Love you. Ahhh life just seems to keep getting better and better, oh yea and I'm getting paid to design a website! SWEET! I just keep getting money! And everyone knows that money makes the world go round… but having 300 dollars in one dollar bills is kind of awkward…. Not to mention taking up space in my wallet, and sitting on it hurts…

Dunt dunt da!
Chapter Twenty: Operation Roku: A Pacifier? (Revised)

"Koenma, what can we do about Botan, her energy is making it impossible to search out Kurama and that woman…" the transformed Koenma looked down at the old woman as he answered her question.

"Well, I think I can help Botan, but she may actually be beyond our help…" Hiei looked at the teenager questioningly, so Koenma continued on. "Well Botan is still alive but the pain she is in may drive her to a maddening state." He looked at Genkai and Hiei quickly. "You must focus and find the strongest point of her energy. That will be the core of her essence… when you find it tell me." The demon and the hag searched the area but Botan's aura seemed to be everywhere. It was Genkai who was the one who spoke up.

"Koenma," Genkai pointed to a nearby ragged rotted stump, "that is the strongest point of her aura." Koenma walked to the designated area and he pulled out his pacifier and set it atop the stump where it had instantly begun to emanate a bluish light. The light started to take a humanoid shape floating in mid air, Koenma held his arms out under the lighted figure and when it solidified into Botan and fell into Koenma's open arms, the light fading inside the pacifier.

"I knew my teenage form would come in handy." Botan was convulsing in Koenma's arms as he walked away from the stump leaving behind his magical binky (haha binky…) upon the jagged stump. "It's worse than I thought; she is reacting worse than I expected. We may not be able to do anything about this." Genkai walked over to the stump to pick up the pacifier, while Koenma set down Botan. "Genkai, please bring the pacifier over here, maybe I can use it to heal Botan." Genkai chuckled lightly as she turned around to face Hiei, Koenma, and the fallen reaper.

"I do not serve you Koenma, I serve the Lord… and soon you all shall too" The teen at first did not understand what she was saying, but the realization started to sink in after a few moments.

"Genkai, why?" He was stunned at how the strong willed Genkai could be influenced by the evils of Natalie. The old woman shrugged, and smiled. "Wait… this…" he looked toward Botan before continuing, "This, was all planned out?" he looked to the black dragon, who seemed just as confused as he was.

"hmn, don't look at me." Genkai smiled again, the look did not suite the usually cool faced old woman. The forest was silent for all except Botan's small moans. Genkai looked to the moaning woman as she continued, her voice clear and level as if everything she was saying was prepared and scripted.

"Yes, Botan's… disappearance, was used to flush you out of the woodwork in order to grab your pacifier, which is the last thing needed in order to create the potion for Kurama." Hiei stepped up to the woman, his calm demeanor leaving him for an angry one, one that was noticeable in the fire apparition's red eyes.

"I will not allow you to contribute to that bastard's hunger for power." Genkai just stood there for a second, as if considering his words before making a sudden movement, which was to punch Hiei in the face before making a break for the clearing. Hiei, caught off guard stumbled back but managed to grab onto the fleeing woman's shirt sleeve which tore off from the shoulder. Hiei stopped moving, stunned at the sight that greeted him, as did the teenage Koenma. The woman looked down at her exposed shoulder, which was host for a small stalk of a plant. Genkai smiled again before running off. Koenma and Hiei were in shock and incapable of doing anything. Thee teen transformed back into his toddler shape before addressing the fire apparition.

"Hiei, with out my pacifier, I can't stay in my adult form, not that I could help anyway, but I need to take Botan back to the spirit world to see if I can get her treatment." Koenma gotsighed, thinking of the the plant Genkai was sporting on her shoulder, the image haunted his mind. "That plant… that was Kurama's doing… correct?" Hiei nodded.

"yes that's what he did to Kuwabara on the ship heading to Japan in order to obtain Yusuke's hair." Koenma stood, dragging Botan with him until he was hovering a few feet in the air.

"I'll leave the rest to you; I think you want to resolve this on your own anyway…"

"hmph, you never spoke truer words. Kurama is my problem, don't worry, I doubt there will be anything left to him to arrest when I'm done." Hiei had a glazed over look in his eyes as he said this, as if what he were saying and what he was thinking were two different things.

"Hiei, must you be so stubborn of your feelings, we all know you care about him more than anything?" Hiei grabbed his katana from the ground and made a slice on his arm, blood glistened as it sprung forth from the new wound and spilt out upon the ground.

"I no longer care, caring hurts, more than this cut. I will not care about someone who does not care about me." Hiei walked off in the direction Genkai took, after a few moments Koenma yelled out to the departing demon.

"Hiei, we will be after you after! But if you stop Kurama, you will get a reduced sentence!" The black haired youkai continued on as if he didn't here him, thinking his own thoughts. After this, there will be no need of anything…a trial, sentence, a punishment. It's all over after this…I will see to it…Kurama, you are mine fox.

-...-...-

In a darkened area, close to the ruins of the dark tournament, Natalie and Kurama stood waiting. Kurama smiled knowingly thinking his own private thoughts. I knew that woman would come in handy… good thing I planted it on her before she left for Japan with the others… Natalie walked up to the brooding demon.

"Will this work? I don't quite agree with your plan." Kurama smiled widely, a smile that used to never appear on his face before but now has been in use quite a while.

"Yes it will, this is of course how I got the first ingredient anyway." The kitsune sniffed the air, come, we must go to the ticket booth… our transport will be here shortly…" The duo made their way through the woods that the deal was made so long ago with the clown oni…

Arriving at the ticket booth the kitsune entered and grimaced. Natalie also stepped in and looked down in the corner, where a half decomposed body sat. "It would seem that the original potion maker has finally had enough…" Kurama smiled despite the smell.

"Can't say I care, as long as I get my potion." Natalie smiled amd kicked the decomposing body, some of the inards strewing about as it landed farther away.

"Of course, at first I kept him alive thinking that I would need him around to make it, but upon taking more of his power, I have found out I receive his knowledge as well. So I let him die taking all his power." Kurama smiled.

"Power, it makes us all happy, and soon I will have it…" Natalie smiled as well.

"Yes and then you will help me."

"Yes… my Lord." Outside a noise attracted the attention of the two youkai, Kurama turned to and faced the door.

"Our transport has arrived." heexited through the door leaving natalie alone on the inside, straining to hear what was going on outside.With much effort she succeded and heard the muffled raspy words of the "transport".

"Lord Kurama, here is the object of your desire…"

Well chapter 20 is finally complete… sorry it took so long, but I've been busy… oh yea… I AM IN COMPLETE HEAVEN! AHHH! –melts into a puddle on the floor sighing- first of all, Dragon Warrior VIII WILL be released in the U.S. and a new Castlevania for the PS2 is coming in a few months, and so is Castlevania DS, for none other than the DS, and then Kingdom Hearts 2! YES! And I have enough money for the Nintendo DS, and the two castlevania games! OMG I CAN'T WAIT! As for chapter 21… you will have to wait a few days –wink!