Prisoner of Destiny:

Summary: Sequel to Water and Fire. Now that the elementals rule the three worlds, everything is under their reign- ningens and youkai alike have all been enslaved, even the YYH gang….and Kiya can't do anything about it. Or can she? Alone she will try to uncover the elementals weakness and use it to return the worlds to their rightful state. But…… where's Hiei? HieixOC.

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Pay attention all you Yu Yu Hakusho fans. Cartoon network has answered our prayers. They are now airing Yu Yu Hakusho once more- but not just any Yu Yu Hakusho……ALL NEW EPISODES! They start this Saturday morning (November 5) at 5:30 am. Watch it! I'll be watching it with you!

Anyways, I was very surprised and happy with the number of reviews I got for the first chapter of this series. Over 20, isn't that great? I know I've said it before and I'll say it again- I love you guys.

Oh, and I got a few very disappointing reviews of people telling me that they forgot who Haku was (I'm not mad, don't worry). Haku is the boy that was new at Kiya's school and threw that massive party (the one that almost kissed Kiya and Hiei got seriously pissed). If you still don't remember, go to Water and Fire and look in chapter 19.

On one more note, happy Halloween everybody. Have a happy Samhain for anyone who knows what that is.

Here it is everybody, chapter 2.

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Previously:

Yumi nodded to me and without making any 'hellos' of my own, I looked to the final person, the one standing next to Aerosaku.

I gasped.

The boy (who looked to be about my age) had silver hair, just like Aerosaku and grey eyes- also like Aerosaku. But, that's not why I gasped. I gasped because I knew him, unfortunately.

"Kiya, this is my brother, Haku."

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Chapter 2: Reunions:

It was a long time before the silence in the large room was broken.

"Bastard…." It took a while to realize that the hissed curse word had come from my mouth. I glared at Haku, the realization of the situation finally sinking in. Haku was Aerosaku's younger brother—that's why he had looked so familiar to me the day he had come to my school. He had been sent by the elementals to spy on me.

Seeming to read my mind, Haku spoke. "You should see the look on your face, Kiya," he laughed. "It's about time you figured out who I really am—although it is a shame that it had to be under these circumstances…" the look on his smug little face said that he thought otherwise.

Oh well. I can play games too.

"Yes, it is a shame. Especially since you had to wait to reveal the truth until you were being protected by your big brother, coward." I smirked. Kiya: one point. Haku: zip.

Haku fumed, but then regained his composure, snorted, and looked away. As I said before…coward.

"Come now, Kiya. Play nicely with the new additions to the elemental home." said Terra, as if she were scolding a child.

I scoffed and turned, looking to Lanaria- my eyes telling her to follow me. I walked to the end of the room, and stopped right in front of the door. I glared back at the elementals over my shoulder from the corner of my eye and hissed, "This is no home." Then I slammed the doors open and glided out of the room- leaving the other Elementals in a shrouded haze of hatred and confusion.

As I hastily walked down the hallway, plotting many ways to 'get rid of' Haku in my mind, a small voice came from behind me. "P-perhaps that was not too wise, Kiya-kyou…."

"I'm not a very wise person, Lanaria," I stopped walking, then turned around to look at the small girl- a new thought coming to mind. "Lanaria, do you know what happened to your parents?"

Lanaria looked lost in thought for a second, then her eyes seemed to glaze over and she sniffed ever so slightly. "T-they gave me up to their majesties-" I know it's rude, but I HAD to interrupt.

"Do not call them that. They don't deserve a title so honorable, okay? Lets' refer to them as…..them."

Lanaria nodded, then continued. "…gave me up to them in exchange for a home. In the after math of the domination ritual, our home was invaded by stronger youkais in need of a place to stay. We were forced out of our home and we needed another one- so my parents came up with a deal with them. In exchange for a place to stay, you would receive me as a……slave." She finished, looking down at the floor. I felt something curl in my stomach.

"You're not a slave. Think of yourself as a permanent roommate, okay?...You aren't mad at your parents?" I asked. I sure as hell would be.

"No. They would've died out there without a place to stay. Ever since the Elementals took over, youkai and ningens have been placed into one world: creating pandemonium. It's very dangerous out there. I would rather be able to know that my parents are safe them make them live on the streets."

To say that I respected this young girl would be seriously below what I really felt for her. At this moment, I felt so much respect for her that I felt like I should be the one serving her.

I smiled and looked Lanaria in the eyes. "How about we go and have a little visit with your parents?" The first thing this girl deserved was a chance to see her parents again. There was no way the Elementals could keep me inside this damned place- they have no need to. With this stupid headdress, they can control me wherever I am.

Immediately, Lanaria's face lit up, her eyes sparkled. "Really?..."

I nodded and couldn't hide the smile that crept onto my face when seeing the young youkai's happiness. If only I could feel like that again…….

So, without another word, Lanaria and I got ready to leave- discussing the whereabouts of her parents.

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"Where do you think you're going?" came a snooty voice from behind Lanaria and
I. Without turning around, I opened the front door and said, "Out. You deserve no further explanation." If that wasn't the truth, I don't know what is. I walked out the door, Lanaria closely by my side and we walked into the sunlight, leaving Jasaro- the speaker- behind.

Lanaria had told me precisely where her parents had been placed- an outer building of the large Elemental Lair with a large number on it. All 20 of the outer houses had numbers on them, and her parents resided in the house with the number 13 on it. I was hoping to Kami-sama that the Elementals had let her parents live when they promised them a new home (being as deceitful as they were, it wouldn't surprise me if they had murdered her parents out of spite). The fact that her parents supposedly live in house number 13 didn't help ease my suspicions one bit.

I'm superstitious- sue me.

The walk to the outer houses was not far at all- they were all within the perimeter of the large gate that surrounded the Lair. It did not take long to glimpse a small hut with the number '13' next to its door….

…..what did take long was the journey there. Again, it wasn't far, but there were hundreds of people in the way. If they had been walking, it would have been quite easy to maneuver between them, but no- being the effing "queen" of all these poor souls had quite the effect on the atmosphere.

As soon as Lanaria and I had stepped into the courtyard that separated the Lair from the other houses, all of the citizens in the street stopped, stared at me for a moment, before all dropping to their knees and holding their arms out to me in a strange hail-Hitler, I-need-food-and-I'm-a-zombie type thing.

I fought to keep my mouth from falling open. I did not deserve this! I had helped create their hell, and here they were worshipping me. I glanced to their faces, seeing the open disgust and hatred- on all of the ningens and youkais faces.

They hated me………..even though I was on their side, they despised me.

"P-please, get up…." I said, surprised at how weak my voice was. "You don't ever have to bow to me…."

The ningens and youkai (all forced to live together) looked reluctant to listen, and looked cautiously over to three large green skinned- pointy eared figures holding oversized swords standing against a wall. I realized what they were and felt my hatred for the Elementals growing stronger. They were guards. These poor people were being forced to live here.

I glared at the guards, who were looking quizzically at me. Then, they nodded faintly at each other, and the large one in the middle yelled, "Stand! Now!"

The people, old, young and all in between stood quickly. With one more look to me, they returned to what they were doing before I had showed up. With a pained look, I glanced at Lanaria who still stood at my side. She smiled faintly to me, and as if reading my thoughts, she murmured, "It will all be better soon. My mother's a psychic, she can tell you what you'd like to know." With that, the young youkai grabbed by wrist and led me to her parents residence, like an apprehensive toddler on her way to the park with her big sister. (A tall toddler and her short ass sister.)

….I've never had a sister.

By the time we reached the door, I was basically being full out dragged by this anxious girl. We stopped in front of the pale green door and she looked to quickly, her eyes full of uncertainty and hope. All I could offer her in return was a small smile, and I rapped three times on the door politely.

Wow, me….polite. Who would've thought? ……….sorry, I've strayed from the story again.

The knocks were un-answered. The dread in my stomach began to build.

Please, Kami-sama….please let this girl's parents be alive- for her sake. Don't let her go through what I had to……

In my last moment of optimism, I knocked once more- a little louder.

Again, the knocks went un-answered. A silence fell over Lanaria and me as we stood staring at the door.

"Maybe they're in town…." Lanaria stated weakly. I only nodded in agreement as Lanaria and I turned around, ready to take the solemn journey back to the lair….

……but were stopped by a feminine voice. "Lanaria?..."

Immediately, my silver eyes shot up to see two figures standing before me. Both were relatively tall- one was female, the other was male. Both had bright orange hair, but it seemed to have been dulled by age. The woman had large and bright yellow eyes, just like Lanaria. The male had deep crimson eyes- which, against my hardest attempts, brought back memories of a certain fire apparition that I had yet to find…..dead or alive.

"Mother!" Lanaria screeched as she ran into the arms of the two awaiting youkais, all three of their eyes began to tear up. "Father!"

I could hear myself sigh in relief. Her parents were still alive. I don't know what god is up there, but I think they heard me.

The two older youkais held Lanaria closely, as if they let go she would disappear forever. Lanaria mirrored their embrace, and I could see many wet trails finding their way down her cheeks, leading to small tears dripping off her chin. Her happiness radiated off of her like heat from a stove- and I felt so happy for her.

"We're so sorry, Lanaria……..So sorry…" Her father cooed, his voice cracking.

"It's alright, I forgive you. I love you both."

They stood like that for a good 2 minutes, before Lanaria sniffed, and let go of her parents slowly. They reluctantly let her go as well, and her mother wiped a tear from her eye with a long-fingered hand.

"Mom, dad, this is Kiya-kyou……she's the one who brought me here."

I was instantly being scrutinized by two pairs of eyes, both filled with torn emotions. I understood- they didn't know whether to hate me because I was an Elemental, or to appreciate me because I had brought their beloved daughter to them.

I decided to take the initiative and bowed slightly in respect, but before I could straighten my upper-body, I could hear both the mother and father bow even lower to me, showing their respect which in my eyes, was poorly misplaced.

"Please don't bow to me." I said, my voice gaining assurance. I wanted all the people in Ningenkai (where every living thing in all of the three worlds had been placed because after the ritual, all of the worlds had fused together by the energy that we had sent out) to get that. I do not deserve their respect- especially because I am the reason they have all been enslaved.

Her mother and father slowly straightened, and my mind immediately felt the presence of another's within it. I looked up quickly to see Lanaria's mother staring into my eyes with a dull yet concentrating look.

Lanaria's mother is a psychic….

"My poor child….." Came the sympathetic voice, the care that it swam in was music to my ears. Before I knew what was happening, I felt a warm hand at my cheek. I looked to Lanaria, then back at her mother, who was closer to me now. "I have felt your pain, darling. Please, come inside…"

She and Lanaria's father walked past me, slid open the front door, and waited for Lanaria and me to enter their small home. At the doorway were two extra pairs of house shoes. I removed my own, along with everyone else and placed my feet within the raggedy slippers. I glanced around the one roomed home. It was poorly furnished, with one small bed in one corner, a tiny kitchen in another and a washing basin next to a toilet. Thank goodness that the Elementals had taken over after indoor plumbing had been invented, because with their poor ruling everyone would probably have to go to the bathroom in little holes outside.

Gross.

In the middle of the room was a small table with a tea kettle on it…..it seemed almost as if they had expected Lanaria and me to come. (The slippers and the tea…)

"Please sit. I have made tea." I obeyed and sat on my knees in front of the low laying table. Lanaria sat next to me, and her mother and father sat across from us. "I must admit I had foreseen your arrival, but I didn't believe it. I prepared just in case." Her mother explained as she poured tea from the old kettle into four equally old cups.

"We have yet to introduce ourselves- forgive us. My name is Sakkado Manko, and this is Sakkado Tora." Lanaria's father-Manko- said, bowing again slightly- not out of respect to my stature, but because of custom.

I bowed back and said, "My name is Shikina Kiya, it's a pleasure to meet you." My last name felt so foreign coming from my mouth- I hadn't used it in so long. Then, I added, "Tora…your name means Tiger. It's very pretty."

"Arigato, Kiya-kyou. Now, let's get back to the important matter at hand…." I looked to Lanaria nervously. I felt as though I was intruding and taking away from her family reunion. But, she smiled at me, then turned her eyes to her mother, who resumed talking.

"I have seen your past and future…..and it is bleak. You have suffered a great deal in the past, but I am also sensing many blessings that had been bestowed upon you, one rising in importance above the others…"

I immediately knew what (who) she was talking about. The blessings were my friends, and the most important one was Hiei.

Hiei…..

Tora seemed to feel my anguish at the memory of Hiei and she sighed, "Ah, the Jaganshi—the Forbidden child. He is now your mate, no? Do not worry, Kiya. I do not sense that his life light has yet perished. He is alive, as well as your other friends- but whether or not they are okay, I do not know."

Nothing could have brought more joy to me- not even saying that the worlds were back to normal and now I possessed a never-ending amount of pop-tarts (which would be very nice right now, mind you. But at the moment, I could care less.)

"Where are they?" I realized after I had asked it that my question seemed a bit rude, but I needed to know the answer.

Tora's expression dropped to a pained one. "I do not know. I'm sorry. But I have another bit of information for you. A decision is coming- a big one that you're going to have to make all on your own. I am sorry to say that both outcomes of the problem will not be good…..but you Kiya-kyou have the power to restore the world's to their rightful state. Please make wise decisions…"

"You must leave now…" Stated Manko, looking around suspiciously.

"What-why?" I asked dumbly.

"Someone is coming. If anyone sees Lanaria with us again, we could be killed.." Tora inputted.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't know…" I started, but Lanaria soon grabbed my hand.

"I didn't know either, but I know my parents well enough to know that we need to leave…now," She turned to her parents. "I love you so much, and I will see you again.."

As soon as Lanaria had said her parting words, we ran out of the small hut, grabbing out shoes and discarding the slippers on the way. No sooner than we were out the door that I saw the three guards coming our direction from a little ways away. Listening to my instincts, I veered a hard left, straight towards the Lair's gates and broke out in a full sprint. I did not want Lanaria's parent to be killed just because we were there, so I was going to get us as far away from house number 13 as possible. I would have flown, but alas- the dreaded rule of the stupid headdress returns.

Lanaria dashed past two guards "guarding" the opening of the gate (who were too busy looking in the direction of the other three guards walking towards Lanaria's parents house to notice us at all.)

As soon as we were on the other side, I put both Lanaria and myself against the massive wall. It surprised me how easy it was to get out of the gates- it seemed almost too easy.

"Will they kill my parents?"

"No, Lanaria. They cant kill them because that would be reasonless murder and if they commit that, then I will kill them, I swear it."

It was then that I decided to look around- it would have been the first time I had seen the world outside of the gated community in which I was being held prisoner.

What I saw sickened me. The streets were barely habited; all that filled them was the rubble and debris from former buildings and houses that had collapsed. Cars were turned over or crushed and trees had been pulled out of the ground. The sky was still a mix of four colors, but it seemed brighter out than it had earlier. It wasn't very hard to notice movement in the barren land I used to call Kyoto, and when I looked closer to the source of movement, I nearly fainted.

I inhaled deeply, preparing to call the name of the very familiar people who approached me slowly. One of the people, I had never thought I'd be this happy to see, so I called his name first.

"KUWABARA!"

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CLIFFHANGER!...sort of.

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Aha! I've brought some of them back early. Kudos to me because I'm so cool.

Psh, yeah I wish.

Oh, and sorry if this one has any errors in it. I was hurrying to get it finished today, you understand.

Anyways, here's a joke supplied by the ever-wonderful Jokes Jessy and I will catch you all on the flip side. (Next one will be out next week, I promise. If not, then you can all come after me with crazy ferrets and little blue monkeys named Loquito. Don't ask, please.)

Three sisters ages 72, 74, and 76 lived in a house together. One night the 76-year-old drew a bath. She put her foot in and paused. She yelled down the stairs "was I getting into or out of the bath?"

The 74-year-old yelled back "I don't know. I'll come up and see." She started up the stairs and paused. Then she yelled, "was I going up the stairs or down?"

The 72-year-old sat at the kitchen table having tea, listening to her sisters. She shook her head sadly and said, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful." She knocked on wood for good measure. She then yelled, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door."

---You're so darned funny, J.J.

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-Kendra a.k.a. Blazin' Blondie

-Honk if you love peace and quiet