Disclaimer/Dedicated to/Inspired by: See the first chapter.
A/N: Thank you for the reviews. Mighty kind of ya. Keiko, the demon, is Yusuke's adopted daughter named after the first Keiko, his dead wife. Ah, dear Kurama. Well, he has... a role in this. Let's just put it that way. I update in random spasms, in case you haven't noticed. The next chapter will be soon and short. With the rest of the story lines. 'Cause. But enough, here's the latest chapter.
Chapter Summary: The Kuwabara brood, plus some friends, make their way s.l.o.w.l.y. to Gandara. Shura just sorta sits there and Hiei's temper is shown in an innocent, unrestrained form. Sorta.
Yukina smiled, watching Eiri and Genkai closely. Eiri would never admit it, but he did have a soft spot for the taller teen. Not that Eiri was a true teen, Yukina reminded herself. Being part demon had changed the way her eldest aged physically, but mentally he seemed a million years old. He walked slow, keeping an eye on Genkai as she raced around, in awe of Makai's deadly beauty. They were so cute together.
Yukina laughed, and Hina looked up at her, confused. "Mama?"
"Nothing, birdie. Do you wish to play with Keiko-chan?"
"Not yet, I wanna ride with you for a little longer."
Yukina nodded and hugged the orange hair child. Hina was a sweet little girl, with both her mother's and her father's kindness. Shizuru, upon reaching her home land, had shed her normal form for a giant house-cat version, and a version used to carrying the smallest members of the group.
Keiko walked ahead, Kazuma walking slowly next to her. Shinobu soon ran past them to walk with Eiri, who promptly elbowed the overweight boy. Shinobu made a face and returned the gesture, by elbowing the much shorter boy on top of his head.
By this point, Genkai had rolled her eyes and slowed down to walk with Suki. Suki was a cheerful girl who had a bad habit of cooking too much food, which was probably why Shinobu was fat. Shinobu's weight was well distributed on his frame; he certainly made a striking figure barreling towards people in a crowd, which is why his friends made fun of him. He could eat more than them, and usually whined when they gave him food, saying they were going to be too scrawny to fight.
Yukina couldn't catch the entire conversation between Suki and Genkai, but she overheard Eiri's name enough times to understand what they were talking about.
"Eiri-kun's been oddly quiet," Genkai glanced ahead at the ruby eyed boy.
Suki laughed softly and said, "Eiri-kun's always quiet. But he has been...more withdrawn, yes?"
Genkai nodded her head energetically, short purple locks bouncing gently.
Suki closed her eyes for a moment, thinking, and then spoke again, "Well, I think he knows something. About your Makai."
"It's not my Makai. It's Eiri-kun's Makai,"
Both the girls giggled at this thought and Yukina could hear no more.
Hina jumped off suddenly and ran ahead to Keiko. Kazuma stayed with them for a few moments, before walking back to Yukina, grinning at her.
"Kazuma, what are you thinking?"
"There's something odd happening. Has Shorty tried to contact you?"
"I wish you wouldn't call him that, but no, he hasn't."
Kazuma was silent, eyes narrowed, "Something's up."
Eiri glanced behind him, his parents deep in conversation. Shinobu elbowed him yet again, throwing an arm around his shoulders.
"I hope I can be as lucky as your folks."
"Why?"
"Man, look at them. They're so happy. Even in a world full of demons."
"My mother is a demon."
"I know but still..."
Shinobu was weird, Eiri decided. Of course, he had decided that several times before, and he would decide that many times in the future. Shinobu whistled, something that seemed uniquely human. It took a minute for Eiri to figure out why he had thought that, and then it hit him: only the bird demons whistled. Shinobu was certainly no bird demon.
Eiri rested his head on Shinobu, a familiar arrangement to them. One too many fights had shown Eiri just how much he needed the taller human, and the thought of leaning on Genkai or Suki was awful. Who needs a girl's help?
Eiri could hear the girls' laughter and was tempted to turn around and glare at them. They were probably teasing about his height. Hina was the shortest, followed by himself and Yukina. Then Keiko and Suki were next, Keiko being a little bit taller than Yukina. Genkai was pretty tall, and Shinobu was as tall as Kazuma. Eiri hated being short.
He couldn't do much about it, he hadn't grown any for nearly twenty years. His uncle wasn't any taller than him, but that was barely any comfort. A crash up ahead sent him and Shinobu running. They saw Hina clapping and laughing while Keiko began walking across the trunk of a tree. It made a decent bridge and when Eiri looked down, he noticed the old rope bridge lying broken on the sharp rocks below.
A loud thump signified Shizuru leaping across the gorge, and Yukina laughed as she was jerked around for a short time. Shizuru purred, a loud rumble, and Yukina smiled, telling the demon cat that she was all right. Kazuma was the last to cross, and he stopped and turned around to stare at their path.
"Father?" Eiri moved next to the carrot top.
"We're in a lot of danger. I expect you and Shinobu to be men about this and protect the girls," Kazuma patted his son on the shoulder before returning to Yukina's side.
Eiri rolled his eyes and walked over to the girls and Shinobu.
"Keiko-chan is so strong! I can't wait until I can fight like her," Genkai exclaimed.
Shinobu laughed, muttering about how Genkai would never be as strong as the young demon. This started a shoving match, and the two shouldered each while following Shizuru's tail, Eiri and Suki trailing behind them. Keiko was talking to Hina, both smiling and giggling like little girls often do. Suki was humming, some pop tune that had been played nonstop on the radio.
Not for the first time, Eiri felt at ease in Makai.
It was nice, he thought, knowing that he could protect his human friends and still be beaten by them. Suki was the best cook, no doubt, while Shinobu had proven several times over to be equally strong if not stronger than Eiri. Genkai was a genius, especially when it came to tactical type things and learning new fighting techniques. They all brought something to the team, even though he was the only demon.
"Hey, Half-breed! What'cha thinking?" Eiri looked at Genkai, who wore a teasing smile.
"Nothing, Bat. Thinking's your job, while I defend your scrawny self!" Genkai rolled her eyes and jumped on him, nearly knocking him over.
They laughed and wrestled as they walked, Shinobu egging them on while Suki acted like an announcer, although she took the time thoroughly insult Eiri in her comments.
"They're so happy, huh, Keiko-chan?" Hina looked up at the demon.
"Yeah, they remind of the stories Daddy would tell," Keiko glanced back behind them, eyes focused on the four rough-housing teens.
"Pip?"
"Eat me."
"...Mature."
"Hush, Puck. Prince Shura's coming."
Pip looked up as Shura walked in, nodding at him in barest respect. Puck bounded to Shura's left, watching his lord and the foreigner warily. Kinley set next to Pip, a thoughtful expression in her eyes.
Shura looked to the table. "Mukuro sent you?"
"Where is Ryu?"
Puck snorted. "The Prince doesn't have time to kidnap brats like that kid. He-" Puck shut up and stared glowing spike in front of his nose.
"Hush, Puck." Kinley said, her eyes narrow as she willed Pip to kill the younger man.
Shura didn't comment. His eyes were drawn to the maid who set the tea tray down, watching the steam rise from the delicate silver pot. Pip reached for a cup and settled herself in, withdrawing the spoon she had pointed at Puck. Puck shook his head violently, he hated it when Pip tricked him like that. He followed in suit, taking a teacup and almost spilling sugar on Shura's sleeve.
"Mukuro and Hiei are travelling to Gandara for the Festival, correct?"
Pip rolled her eyes and nodded at Shura. "Unfortunately. Everyone is so impressed by you, boy. But your father is the one who built Gandara City..."
"Then they will have their son back at that time. I'll send out the original team to look for Ryu. Kinley, go-"
"And send out the fearsome four? Yessir."
Puck giggled. The four fighters-turned-soldiers loaned to Gandara by Enki certainly did fit the description. Kinley rose to her feet, wincing when her knee cracked. Pip raised her eyebrow, mentally questioning Kinley's age.
Puck slurped his tea, leaning to the side when Kinley attempted to hit him, and turned to Shura. "Highness, why don't you have some tea? It's probably cooled off now."
Shura did not respond, watching Pip with blank eyes.
"No worries, King, I won't pick off your little gopher." Pip quipped, winking at Kinley as the elder woman left.
Shura stood gracefully, gently straightening his shirt. "I have a meeting with the science department, Puck." Shura then turned sharply on his heel and exited.
Puck groaned and gulped his tea down, quickly pouring another cup. Pip mimicked his actions, in a smoother, less frustrated way. She waited impatiently for Puck to explain. As long as she could remember trying to kill Shura, Puck had been following the Prince as a bodyguard. The rules should've applied to meetings, as well. Puck sighed, looking at her with one eye.
"The Science Department has been... nervous around me ever since I got me and Yoda stuck in the cloner."
"...You lot have a cloner?"
"Oops."
Touya winced. The kid in Chuu's arms cried out again and sent fire chasing after the lithe ice demon. Chuu laughed, and Natsume stared as they once again tried to shut the child up. Rinku shrugged, sitting cross-legged on the ground and laughing as Touya dodged the kid's attacks.
"He's Ryu, son of Mukuro and Hiei?" Natsume asked, disbelief evident in her face.
"Mm hm. He's a handful, eh?" Rinku called to Chuu who struggled to hold Ryu still.
"Hell, if I knew rescuing him would be this much trouble, I would've gone back to Enki. Shura and Kinley go to hell in a handbasket." Chuu exclaimed.
Ryu screeched and powered up into a right little fire ball, causing Touya to duck behind Natsume and Chuu to drop the brat and run.
"We take him with us to the Week of the Moon, right?" Natsume murmured, glaring at Touya who gazed at Ryu coldly.
"Yeah, unfortunately..." Chuu grumbled.
He lunged at the boy and watched as he ran ahead of them.
"We do this, and we'll chase him all the way to Gandara!"
Touya and Natsume rolled their eyes at Chuu's shouted suggestion and chased after Chuu and Ryu, Rinku laughing again and catching up with Ryu to antagonize the boy further.
In the bushes, two very roughed up demons in disguises watched as their prize escaped. 'Oh, he will not be pleased to learn of this...' thought one demon, brushing leaves out the other's hair. The other just stood up in pain, face expressionless.
A/N: Okay, I shorted you guys. I had more with Yusuke and a little Botan and Loki for this chapter, but it sucked. So I wanna rework it. More. (I really can't wait for the chapters after next! More canon characters, more plot! I won't let you guys down, I promise!)